U.S. National Black Business Month: 62% Rise, $249B, Year Round Steps
National Black Business Month is observed every August across the United States to recognize and economically support Black-owned businesses. The purpose is simple: shine a light on Black entrepreneurs and close longstanding gaps in capital and customer access. The single most effective thing you can do today is make an intentional, recurring purchase and tell someone else about it. That one act, repeated, is what turns a month of attention into a year of impact.
TL;DR:
- Black-owned businesses have grown by approximately 62% between 2017 and 2023, but still represent only 3.4% of employer firms despite accounting for 14.4% of the population.
- Supporting these businesses includes making recurring purchases, sharing on social media, and supporting Black entrepreneurs through policy programs like the SBA 8(a) and Minority Business Development Agency.
- The majority of Black-owned businesses operate in urban areas and are concentrated in health care and social assistance sectors, which support local wealth and community stability.
- Entrepreneurs should plan targeted promotions during August to convert attention into long-term customer relationships and online growth, using resources like digital marketing guides.
- Platforms like Da Village Network provide verified Black-owned vendor listings, offering entrepreneurs and consumers a streamlined way to support Black businesses year-round.
Table of Contents
- What is National Black Business Month?
- The origins and purpose behind the observance
- Why it matters: the numbers behind the movement
- How to support Black-owned businesses, starting today
- Federal programs and organizations that back Black entrepreneurs
- How entrepreneurs can make the most of the month
- Why this month matters to me
- Shop Black-owned, all year, with Da Village Network
- Sources
- FAQ
What is National Black Business Month?
National Black Business Month falls in August, a time when communities, media outlets, and small business networks turn their attention to Black-owned companies across the country. It is widely attributed to Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton, who created the observance to spotlight entrepreneurs often overlooked by mainstream commerce and media.
During the month, you will see business spotlights, pop-up markets, curated directories, and sales events designed to introduce shoppers to companies they may not have found otherwise. Some organizations host panel discussions or networking nights. Others simply publish lists of Black-owned businesses by city or category. The common thread is visibility, because a business that customers cannot find is a business that cannot grow.
The origins and purpose behind the observance
The founders built National Black Business Month around a clear goal: closing entrepreneurship gaps and increasing the flow of capital into Black communities. Access to loans, contracts, and customer bases has historically been harder to come by for Black entrepreneurs, and the observance was designed to push those barriers into public conversation.
Over time, the month has also become a moment for policy advocates to call attention to funding programs and procurement opportunities. It is not just a marketing calendar entry. It is a recurring reminder that economic inclusion takes sustained effort, not a single news cycle. Some of the specific details of the founders’ early campaigns are not widely documented, but the stated mission, closing gaps in capital and opportunity, has remained consistent.
Why it matters: the numbers behind the movement
The scale of Black-owned business growth in the U.S. is real, and so is the gap that remains. In 2023, Black-owned employer firms numbered about 200,000, generating $249.0 billion in annual receipts and employing roughly 1.9 million people, according to Census Bureau data. That is a business community with real economic weight in cities and towns nationwide.
Black-owned employer businesses grew by roughly 62% between 2017 and 2023, according to Brookings, a period of expansion that outpaced many other segments of the small business economy. Even so, Black-owned firms make up about 3.4% of employer firms while Black Americans represent 14.4% of the population, a gap that shows there is still ground to cover.
Pew Research Center found that health care and social assistance is a leading sector for these businesses, and that the majority of majority-Black firms operate in urban areas. That concentration matters because wealth built through business ownership tends to stay in the community where the business operates, supporting jobs, local spending, and family stability for generations.
How to support Black-owned businesses, starting today
Supporting Black entrepreneurs works best as a layered commitment: something you can do this week, and something you keep doing all year.
Start with these immediate actions:
- Buy a product or gift card from a Black-owned business you have been meaning to try.
- Leave a detailed, honest review after your purchase.
- Share the business on social media and tag a friend who might love it too.
Then build habits that last beyond August:
- Turn a one-time purchase into a repeat order or subscription.
- Choose a Black-owned vendor the next time your workplace needs a supplier.
- Support a local Community Development Financial Institution or small business accelerator focused on Black entrepreneurs.
- Host or attend a community event that connects shoppers directly with local business owners.
Before you buy, take a moment to confirm ownership rather than assuming based on branding alone. Our guide on verifying 51% ownership walks through how to do this without tokenizing the businesses you want to support. Our step-by-step shopping guide and online buying guide both offer practical starting points if you are new to this.
Pro Tip: Set a recurring monthly budget line for Black-owned businesses, even a small one, so support does not depend on remembering during a specific month.
Federal programs and organizations that back Black entrepreneurs
Several institutions exist specifically to help Black-owned businesses access capital and contracts. Knowing where to look can save an entrepreneur months of guesswork, and it can help shoppers understand the support system behind the businesses they buy from.
- The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program offers technical assistance and eligibility for sole-source and set-aside federal contracts, though it works best for firms with a couple of years of operating history and the patience to treat it as a multi-year investment rather than a quick win.
- The Minority Business Development Agency connects minority-owned firms to capacity-building resources, grants, and contracting opportunities alongside SBA programs.
- Nonprofit directories and campaigns curate lists of Black-owned businesses by category and region, making discovery easier for everyday shoppers.
Entrepreneurs considering 8(a) certification should plan early, since the application and approval timeline is measured in months, not weeks.
How entrepreneurs can make the most of the month
August is a chance for Black business owners to convert attention into lasting customer relationships, not just a short sales bump.
- Plan a promotion, bundle, or limited event tied to the month, and pair it with your own story of why you started the business.
- Partner with neighboring Black-owned businesses on joint promotions to expand reach without added cost.
- Track simple numbers: sales lift during August, how many customers return afterward, and new leads generated.
- Build a stronger online presence using resources like this step-by-step guide to digital growth so momentum from August carries into the rest of the year.
Why this month matters to me
I have watched what happens when a community decides to put its dollars where its values are. Da Village Network exists because conscious spending, done consistently, changes what is possible for Black entrepreneurs and the families behind them. This month is not the finish line. It is a reminder to keep showing up.
— Ronnie
Shop Black-owned, all year, with Da Village Network
Finding verified Black-owned businesses should not take hours of searching. Da Village Network brings vendors across multiple categories into one marketplace, so every purchase you make there supports Black-owned businesses.
For entrepreneurs, onboarding comes with no monthly fees, helping businesses get listed and visible to shoppers looking to buy from Black-owned companies.
| What you get | Details |
|---|---|
| Marketplace access | Verified Black-owned vendors across multiple categories |
| DVN Premium | Sitewide discount offered for a monthly subscription fee |
| Vendor onboarding | No monthly fees for entrepreneurs joining the platform |
Browse DVN Premium and the full marketplace to start building your own habit of year-round support.
Sources
- Census Bureau press release: Business owner characteristics (2025)
- Pew Research Center: A look at Black-owned businesses in the U.S. (2025)
- U.S. Small Business Administration — certifications (8(a))
- Brookings: Black employers are reaching new heights
FAQ
What is the biggest company owned by a Black person?
Public rankings of Black-owned companies shift over time and depend on how ownership and revenue are measured, so there is no single definitive answer widely agreed upon. Directories and business publications periodically publish their own rankings, and figures vary by source and year.
Are there any Black-owned Chick-fil-A?
Chick-fil-A operates through a franchise model, and ownership demographics for individual franchise locations are not centrally published. This information is not publicly listed in a way that supports a specific figure here.
What is the most common Black-owned business type?
Health care and social assistance is the most common sector for Black-owned employer businesses, accounting for about 26% of those firms, according to Census Bureau data. Retail and professional services also make up a meaningful share of the landscape.
What does National Black History Month celebrate?
Black History Month, observed in February, celebrates the achievements and history of Black Americans throughout the nation’s history. It is a separate observance from National Black Business Month, which is observed in August and focuses specifically on entrepreneurship and economic support.
How can I verify a business is actually Black-owned?
Look for ownership disclosures on the business’s website, check curated directories that vet listings, or ask directly when shopping at a smaller business. Da Village Network verifies vendor ownership as part of its marketplace listing process, which is one reason shoppers use it to shop with confidence.