Does Small Business Saturday Count as Cyber Monday Prep?
Use Saturday store visits to compare prices and build a list, then shop smart online Monday.
No. Small Business Saturday buying does not count as Cyber Monday spending. Saturday works as practical prep for Monday buying, not as the same sale.
Small Business Saturday was Nov. 29 in 2025, the Saturday after Thanksgiving and the day after Black Friday. It was founded by American Express in 2010 and co-sponsored by the SBA since 2011 to direct spending to local independents, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau story citing the SBA in its Census Bureau account of Small Business Saturday.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
Same weekend, separate sales
Retail trackers treat Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday as one five-day Cyber Week. Saturday and Monday are distinct days in that shared event, not the same sale, according to the Adobe Cyber Monday recap. Cyber Monday was Dec.
1 in 2025, the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend. It is marketed as an online-deals day that closes the Thanksgiving-to-Cyber-Monday shopping stretch, according to NerdWallet in its NerdWallet guide to when Cyber Monday falls.
Who shops Saturday versus Monday
The National Retail Federation projected a record 186.9 million people would shop Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday in 2025. Black Friday ranked first at 130.4 million expected shoppers, with Cyber Monday second at 73.9 million, according to the National Retail Federation forecast. Small Business Saturday skews store-based and local.
The same Federation forecast expected about 67 million Saturday shoppers in 2025, with 80% saying they would shop specifically to support small businesses.
Why channels and discounts do not transfer
Saturday buying does not move Monday totals because channels differ. Small Business Saturday centers on in-store visits to independents, while Cyber Monday centers on online orders. Discount categories also differ.
Cyber Monday strength includes electronics, toys, apparel and computers, while Saturday strength is local services, gifts and neighborhood stores. Shoppers and small retailers feel that split differently.
How to turn Saturday into Monday prep
Use Saturday for scouting, not for chasing Monday prices. Compare models, check fit, note regular prices and build a wish list. Buy online Monday only if the price beats the store note.
Set the cap Saturday night and check it before you click buy Monday.
- Write down product names, sizes and model numbers
- Photograph price tags for later comparison
- Build an online wish list with links
- Set a spending cap for Monday