1 in 3 Small Businesses Closed During COVID. Here’s How We’re Fighting Back

When COVID-19 swept across the world, small businesses were among the hardest hit. Many had to close their doors overnight, facing not only lost revenue but also a massive shift in how customers shopped, dined, and connected with their communities.

Even now, years later, the ripple effects are still being felt.

The Lasting Impact of COVID on Small Businesses

• Temporary closures turned permanent: At the peak of the pandemic, nearly one-third of small businesses in the U.S. shut down, and many never reopened.

• Revenue losses: Industries like restaurants, retail, and local services reported drops of 20–40% or more.

• Customer uncertainty: Outdated online hours, last-minute closures, and limited staff meant customers often showed up to locked doors.

• New expectations: Consumers got used to real-time updates, delivery, and flexibility, leaving traditional businesses scrambling to keep up.

Why Real-Time Connection Matters

Trust has become one of the most valuable currencies in the post-COVID world. Customers want to know before they go:

• Is the coffee shop actually open today?

• Does the boutique have new arrivals or a sale?

• Is that local bar hosting trivia night or did it get canceled?

When small businesses don’t have an easy way to update their community, customers often turn elsewhere to bigger brands with slick digital platforms.

Enter OpenStatus: Built for the Locals

We saw this problem firsthand and decided to do something about it. OpenStatus is the free app that gives businesses the power to share real-time updates and lets locals always know before they go.

• For businesses: Post your hours, deals, menu changes, events, and updates instantly. No more frustrated customers finding bad info on Google.

• For locals: Discover what’s happening around you right now. From flash sales to closed-early updates, you’ll always be in the loop.

It’s simple, it’s free, and it’s powered by the people who make your city come alive.

Rebuilding Community, One Update at a Time

Small businesses are the heartbeat of every town. They’re the coffee shops that remember your order, the bookstores that host local authors, the restaurants where memories are made. COVID threatened that heartbeat — but connection can bring it back stronger.

OpenStatus exists to make sure no one wastes time, no one misses out, and no one feels disconnected from the places they love most.

Because when small businesses thrive, the whole community thrives.