Thoughts

Creative Ways SMEs Can Generate Revenue During a Crisis

Dec 13, 2025 | By Team SR

You feel the pressure more than most when the economy shifts. Customers hold on to their money for longer, bills keep coming, and each week demands new ideas just to stay ahead. Yet many small and medium-sized businesses already sit on assets that can earn money in fresh ways: your skills, your community presence and the trust you’ve built. When you take a flexible approach and adapt quickly, you can keep income flowing even when markets shrink. Real progress often comes from people who dare to test something different, so this period can give you the push you need to try creative routes that strengthen your business for the future.

Explore new digital income streams

When footfall drops or usual contracts pause, your expertise still holds real value online. You might teach your knowledge through paid webinars or short courses that solve specific customer problems. A local fitness studio, for instance, can film focused at-home sessions and charge for premium access. A furniture shop could offer virtual styling consultations and earn by recommending suitable products. You also reduce overheads because you use tools you already own — your laptop and your experience. Review what customers often ask you, then turn those answers into something people can buy from home.

Diversify products and services locally

Familiar customers trust you, so you can offer something fresh that meets what they need right now. A café that once relied on lunchtime crowds can prepare meal kits for families who want convenient home cooking. A boutique may supply office-appropriate tops for video meetings rather than full outfits. When you analyse where demand has shifted, you uncover practical additions to your range. You can also speak with trusted advisers like accountants in Liverpool who understand regional spending patterns and can help you judge whether a new idea can stay profitable. By widening your local relevance, you build resilience and encourage repeat visits from loyal buyers.

Create a subscription or membership model

A subscription option can give you a more predictable monthly income and deeper relationships with your customers. A pet shop could deliver pet food on a regular cycle with a small membership perk, like early access to new toys. A beauty salon might create a ‘mini maintenance’ package that includes occasional treatments or product bundles. Subscribers commit because they see consistent value and convenience, while you gain steadier cash flow that smooths out difficult periods. Start with a clear offer that feels rewarding from the customer’s perspective, then refine it based on their feedback to keep them engaged for longer.