Small Business Development

At Dollar General, we believe our business should reflect the wide range of communities where our customers and employees live and work. As part of our Small Business Development (SBD) Program, we are committed to partnering with a growing network of vendors and suppliers who support our efforts to provide relevant products and services to the millions of Americans from all backgrounds and walks of life we have the privilege of serving in our 20,000+ stores every day.

Our stores provide more than just convenient access to affordable essentials. We are proud to be part of the fabric of our hometowns. With approximately 75% of Americans living within five miles of a Dollar General store, we understand the importance our stores play in so many lives.

Our SBD Program is designed to explore ways Dollar General can support small businesses of all backgrounds that wish to partner with us and serve our customers and communities. We recognize the role that small businesses can play in supporting our efforts to keep the customer at the center of all we do, and we seek mutually beneficial relationships with vendors and suppliers that share our values, embrace our mission of Serving Others and help us achieve our operating priorities.

The SBD program provides vendors and suppliers with, among other things, the following opportunities:

- Learning and development through our Small Business Development Academy;
- Resources to support product discovery;
- Services including funding, counseling and training via our strategic partnership with the Tennessee District office of the U.S. Small Business Administration;
- Engagement events to bring small business owners and suppliers together with our teams, including our annual Strategic Partner Summit; and
- Financial enablement programs from Citi® and Bridge.

Our Key Strategic Partners

To support our Small Business Development Program, Dollar General works with the following strategic partners:

SBA

U.S. Small Business Administration

Become a DG Small Business Vendor or Supplier

If you are a provider of:

Goods for Resale In-Store

Goods for resale are products that a store purchases from suppliers to sell to its customers.

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Goods or Services not for resale*

Goods or services not for resale are products or services a business uses to support its operations but does not sell to customers.

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*Please include your capabilities statement and any relevant supplier certifications in your inquiry. Note that it may take up to 60-90 days for a response depending on the current volume of inquiries.

DG’s Mission of Serving Others

Learn more about being a DG Partner

DG expects its vendors to conduct themselves in accordance with the law and with the high ethical standards to which DG holds itself and its employees.

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Financing Programs for Small Business Suppliers

Through our partnership with Citi® and Bridge, Dollar General is proud to make two separate programs available to our certified suppliers.

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Outreach to Small Business Supplier Communities

We provide opportunities to cultivate the capacities of our current and potential small business suppliers, providing them with the tools they need to do business with us.

Small Business Development Summit

Our Small Business Development Summit is an educational program on best practices for conducting business with Dollar General, which kickstarts our ten-month Small Business Development Academy. On day one, current and prospective certified small suppliers, including diverse suppliers, connect with senior leaders throughout various Dollar General departments, including (among others), marketing, supply chain, merchandising and finance.

Small Business Development Academy

The Small Business Development Academy is a structured learning environment for fostering vendor capacity among small businesses as competitive entities capable of growing their business acumen while simultaneously contributing to Dollar General’s growth and merchandising strategies. The Small Business Development Academy is limited to 30-40 companies each year.

Small Business Successes

Testimonials

BLACK PAPER PARTY

“Partnering with Dollar General has been nothing short of extraordinary for Black Paper Party. As a supplier, working with Dollar General has been great beyond the collaborative events. They generously share resources, providing valuable insights into funding options, onboarding processes, and effective strategies to continuously scale our business. This collaborative approach has truly set the stage for mutual growth.

We're honored to contribute to Dollar General and look forward to the continued growth of this impactful collaboration. Here's to more shared successes and milestones in fostering a truly inclusive business environment.”

Jasmine, J’Aaron, and Madia Founders,
Black Paper Party

MILO'S TEA COMPANY

“As a women-owned company, Milo's is proud to share Dollar General's goals and values. This commitment to putting people first creates extra sweet wins with our fans and in the community. With our continued double-digit growth in its stores, Dollar General has been a critical partner in our growth from a small, regional business into a national consumer brand”

Tricia Wallwork
Chair and CEO, Milo's Tea Company

OLE MEXICAN FOODS

“I’ve had the honor of participating in the inaugural networking event for small business suppliers at Dollar General. I’m proud to work for a company that has a female and Hispanic owner and CEO, and as a female, myself, it was great to connect with companies that stem from other backgrounds. Having the ability to share experiences, growing pains, and successes helps us to showcase best-in-class practices so that we can each continue to grow with Dollar General.”

Jillian Pantano
Olé Mexican Foods