In the leadup to TikTok‘s latest ban deadline (which was, once again, extended), it ran a charm offensive, talking up its impact on the U.S. economy and highlighting just how many small businesses would be affected if it were to get the perma banhammer.
Now it’s putting money where its mouth is: For May’s Small Business Month, TikTok is giving 500 American small businesses $2,000 each in ad credits, plus “dedicated time with a TikTok Ads Expert to customize a plan to get the most out of the platform,” the platform said in a company blog post. That adds up to $1 million in free advertising for little guys.
“Small businesses are the heart of innovation, culture, and community across the United States—and on TikTok, their impact is bigger than ever,” TikTok wrote. “Among the 170 million users in the U.S., more than 7.5 million businesses, from family-run shops to emerging brands, are leveraging TikTok to grow and connect with new audiences.”
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The goal here for TikTok is to get even more small businesses plugged in to its ad portal. Only SMBs that haven’t yet advertised on TikTok are eligible, and the $2K credit only lasts from June 14 to July 14, 2025–meaning these companies are getting just a taste, with TikTok clearly hoping they’ll re-up with ad spend out of their own pockets.
The other upside for TikTok? If a small business receives the credit, it must give TikTok blanket permission to use its branding (logos, testimonials, etc) in future marketing materials. Pretty sweet deal for the big man.
SMBs interested in the creds can apply here.
This giveaway isn’t TikTok’s only Small Business Month move. It’s wooing both policymakers and business owners with more events.
On the policy side, TikTok will shepherd its ever-growing ecommerce monster, Shop, around to lawmakers in New York and Texas. Small business owners who sell products on Shop will join to chat with said lawmakers about the impact of TikTok on their home states’ economies, the platform says. (Shop’s getting a boost online, too, with a special “Small Biz Fest” tab that’ll highlight SMB-made products to TikTok users for the last two days of the month.)
For creators, TikTok is putting on a cross-country rash of roadshows, meeting small business owners in New York City, Los Angeles, and Austin with programming aimed at teaching them to “maximize” their TikTok presence. It’s also launching a weekly webinar series starting May 15 that will offer “expert guidance and cutting-edge strategies to launch effective campaigns and make the most of TikTok’s business tools,” it says.
In its blog post, TikTok hints all this effort won’t end when Small Business Month does.
“At TikTok, we believe small businesses fuel more than the economy—they shape our culture and community on the platform and beyond,” it said. “That’s why we’re proud to support their journeys and successes not just in May, but year-round.”
Whatever its future plans, one thing is clear–TikTok plans to make itself a vital part of American small businesses’ digital sales. Will that keep it from a ban? Maybe. Under this administration, nothing’s guaranteed.
