Beyond Capitalism: Building Community-Based Businesses in a Post-Capitalist Economy

It's hard—even impossible, sometimes—to imagine and create an alternative to the capitalist system we live in.

One of the reasons capitalism is so prolific is simply because there isn't a widely acknowledged, discussed, or explored alternative. It's like asking a fish to imagine life outside of water; the system is so deeply ingrained in our daily lives that it becomes hard to see past it.

The primary point of capitalism is, of course, to make more capital. But at its core, capitalism is an addiction to growth that is rooted in white supremacy and benefits only a small handful of people. This relentless pursuit of profit leads to the neglect of our collective needs. The vast majority of us—the ones who don’t sit atop this economic hierarchy—struggle under its weight, left to fend for ourselves while a privileged few amass unimaginable wealth.

So, what does it look like for a small business to operate through an anti-capitalist lens? How can we figure out how to make money when you hate capitalism?

I've thought about this every day for the last year, and the idea that sticks with me most right now is this: in order for small businesses with an anti-capitalist ethos to thrive, they need to focus on more than just their own personal capital growth. They need to focus on collective liberation.

We need to be concerned with how every need can be met, rather than pouring all of our care and energy into personal profit alone. But let’s be honest—it’s really hard to do this when you’re working your ass off to pay for daycare, keep a roof over your head, and deal with the ever-rising costs of food, healthcare, and basic necessities.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of individualistic thinking, clinging to the belief that "I gotta take care of me." And I get it—we’re in survival mode. But that mindset is exactly what capitalism wants us to hold onto, and it is absolutely not working.

If you want to resist capitalist systems in your business while still making a living, here are some ideas to consider:

Leaving Social Media

Removing yourself from the constant noise of opinions, disinformation, comparison, and time-consuming distractions allows you to return to who you are and what you want to represent. Endless scrolling keeps us tethered to systems of extraction, but stepping away can help us reconnect with our actual communities. Maybe of us business owners were taught that there is no business without social media. This is a lie. Business was around for hundreds of years before social media and will continue well on after. If you're looking for help figuring out how to run your business and do marketing without the use of social media, check out this free class: Marketing Without Social Media. 

Working 30 Hours a Week Instead of 40

Who decided 40 hours is "full-time" anyway? If you can meet your financial needs in 20 hours, why push for 40? The grind is not a badge of honor. If you’re able to spend more time living your life instead of working, take that as a win, not a failure. This obviously isn't a choice for so many of us, but more often than not I find my clients getting addicted to busy work and clocking more hours than is truly necessary for the business to run. 

Offering a Sliding Scale, Bartering, or Trading for Services

If equal access to your services hasn't been a priority, it might be time to consider why. Who gets access to your services? What would it require of the business to open the gates a bit and make your work available to more humans of varying economics? A sliding scale allows people to pay based on what they can afford, making your work accessible to more people. Bartering and trading create reciprocity and keep money from being the only means of exchange. Is there someone you could trade with to get your website updated? Could you gift a free massage in exchange for your kids being picked up a few times a month giving you more time to work?

Paying Yourself and Your Team a Livable Wage

Cutting corners on wages is exploitative and breeds resentment. Pay yourself what you need to survive and thrive, and if you have a team, compensate them fairly. Wage stagnation and worker exploitation are pillars of capitalism—let’s not perpetuate them in our businesses. In my Liberatory Finance series I teach you exactly how to know how much you can afford to pay yourself and if there's extra, how much you could offer someone in the form of a salary. Remember though, all employee // employer relationships are inherently hierarchal. If you need the help of employees or other workers I truly hope you start to consider what it would look like to transition to a coop or to include profit sharing in your business. 

Denouncing "Empire Building" and Exploitative Business Practices

Empire building is about hoarding power and resources. It’s the antithesis of community wealth-building. Instead of scaling endlessly, consider what sustainable growth looks like for you and your community. We must stop seeing millionaires and billionaires as the goal. We must align ourselves with the folks who actually have shared interest: the working class. As small business owners, entrepreneurs, and soloprenuers our minds have been continuously warped to see the Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg's of the world as our idols. This is such a lie. You are closer economically and financially speaking to the unhoused human sleeping in the park on the waterfront than you will ever be to a billionaire. Stop idolizing their warped, harmful, and imperialistic strategies and align yourself with the masses. 

Evolving Into an ESOP or Cooperative Model

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and cooperatives shift ownership from a single business owner to the collective. When workers have a stake in decision-making, they are more invested in the business's success in a way that benefits everyone—not just a single boss. I personally love working with coops as a business coach and consultant. One of my favorite local to me businesses that I've had the pleasure of representing in ethical marketing and sales has been New Frameworks. Coops are truly the way fo the future in terms of how we should be running our small, medium and larger businesses. 

Consuming Less

By consuming less—whether it's media, materials, or environmental resources—you push back against the capitalist idea that more is always better. Capitalism thrives on excess. Intentional consumption is an act of resistance. In my Liberatory Finance series we spend a lot of time going over your personal and business budget. How often does the thought come up that you need more, better, newer? How often are we marketed to this way? Most of my clients don't have large budgets to play around with and so we embrace consuming less. We do as little marketing as humanely possible. We use the stuff we have until it breaks and then we try to fix it before buying new. We ask friends, neighbors, and community members if we can borrow. We rent stuff from the library! How can you continue to consume less in your business? 

Amplifying Voices in Your Industry That Have Been Silenced

If you have opportunities and visibility that others don’t, use your platform to uplift marginalized voices. Share their work. Direct people to their businesses. Collaboration over competition benefits us all. I'm talking to all of us well-meaning white women out here especially in the coaching industry. What are you doing to actively address, unlearn, and redo to acknowledge imperialism, white supremacy and capitalism in your business? We can link to marginalized folks websites in our emails directing traffic to folks sites, donate a consistent percentage of our gross sales to local causes (I'm currently donating monthly to the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont), and make sure that we're not undercutting our brothers and sisters in our pricing especially in DEI work. How are you inconveniencing yourself to meet the needs of others who do not have the luxury of resting on their privileges? Building and caring for community is deeply inconvenient at times and also, none of us are free until we are all free. 

Refusing Scarcity and Fear-Based Marketing Tactics

Capitalist marketing thrives on making people feel like they are not enough. Instead of feeding into fear, focus on honest, ethical marketing. Not everyone will be your customer, and that’s okay.

Refusing to Tie Your Worth to a Dollar Amount

You are not worth any dollar amount. Your pricing should reflect what you need to survive and support your work, not what capitalism tells you you're "worth."

Spending Time NOT Working—Without Guilt

Capitalism teaches us that rest must be earned. That’s a lie. Rest is a necessity, not a luxury. Burnout serves no one, and time off is one of the most productive things you can do.

Scheduling Restorative Care—Even When You Feel Busy

When you're swamped, the instinct is to push through, but that’s exactly when you need care the most. Taking a walk, spending time with loved ones, or moving your body can make a huge difference in your well-being.

Being Vocal About Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and Overwhelm

Capitalism thrives when we suffer in silence. Being open about mental health—whether it’s naming our struggles or advocating for better conditions—disrupts the narrative that we should just "suck it up."

The Bigger Picture

Ultimately, resisting capitalism within our businesses isn’t just about what we don’t do—it’s about what we actively build in its place. Every time we choose collaboration over competition, mutual aid over hoarding, and sustainability over endless growth, we are creating a different reality. One that prioritizes people over profit.

And let’s be real—if resisting capitalism means never seeing a seven-figure bank account, I’m fine with that. Because if I ever catch myself chasing that kind of wealth at the expense of community well-being, well… is that a millionaire? then I got to go.

By actively and intentionally pursuing an anti-capitalist approach to business, you’re helping meet the needs of people who don’t benefit from capitalism. And the people who don’t benefit from capitalism? That’s the majority of us.

So tell me—how are you taking an anti-capitalist stance in your business?

Tell me in the comments below! ⬇️