It's Black Business Month — And We Have Something to Celebrate

Every August, the nation celebrates Black Business Month — a dedicated time to recognize, support, and amplify the extraordinary contributions of Black entrepreneurs to the American economy. And this year, there is genuinely remarkable news to celebrate: despite significant economic headwinds, Black-owned businesses are growing at historic rates.

While headlines often focus on the challenges facing Black America — and those challenges are real and urgent — there is another, more powerful story unfolding. Black entrepreneurs are building businesses nearly 19 times faster than the broader business sector, creating jobs, generating wealth, and laying the foundation for long-term economic power.

The Numbers Behind the Movement

Here's what the data shows:

• The number of Black-owned employer businesses (those with at least one employee) has grown by 62% since 2017, surpassing 200,000 total firms for the first time in history.
• These businesses collectively generate $249 billion in annual revenue.
• They supply over 1.8 million jobs and pay $69.8 billion in salaries.

Let that sink in. Black-owned businesses are not a marginal footnote in the American economy — they are a multi-billion dollar engine of growth and opportunity.

The Brookings Institution's Black Business Parity Dashboard confirms this explosive growth, while also noting that significant gaps remain. Black people represent just 3.4% of employer business owners while comprising 14.4% of the U.S. population. Closing that gap would unleash even greater economic power for Black communities and the nation as a whole.

Where Black Business Is Thriving

Black entrepreneurs are finding success across multiple industries, particularly in sectors with strong growth potential:

Healthcare & Social Assistance leads all sectors in the number of Black-owned firms. Black entrepreneurs have built thriving businesses in home health, behavioral health, child care, senior care, medical offices, and wellness services. As America's population ages and demand for culturally responsive care grows, this sector is only going to expand.

Professional Services — including consulting, marketing, communications, accounting, and human resources — are also seeing strong growth among Black business owners. The demand for expertise and the rise of remote work have opened new doors for Black professionals to launch their own firms.

Technology is another frontier. AI tools are making it easier than ever to start and scale a business, and Black entrepreneurs are taking advantage. From tech startups to digital marketing agencies to AI-powered service businesses, the next generation of Black innovation is being built right now.

Transportation remains a sector where Black-owned businesses have established a particularly strong presence, from logistics and trucking to delivery and fleet services.

Atlanta: The Capital of Black Business

For Black Atlanteans, this moment is especially significant. Atlanta has long been recognized as one of the best cities in America for Black entrepreneurs. Our city is home to the Atlanta University Center — the largest consortium of HBCUs in the world — which produces a pipeline of talented Black graduates ready to launch the next generation of businesses.

Atlanta's Black business community stretches from the historic corridors of Auburn Avenue to the booming tech scene in Midtown, from the thriving restaurants of the West End to the innovative startups clustered around the BeltLine. This city is proof of what Black economic power can look like.

How to Celebrate Black Business Month This August

Words are great. Dollars are better. Here's how to make Black Business Month more than just a hashtag:

• Shop intentionally. Make a conscious effort to spend your dollars at Black-owned businesses for your daily needs — from your morning coffee to your weekend grocery run.
• Leave a review. A five-star Google or Yelp review can dramatically boost a small business's visibility. Take two minutes to write one today.
• Share on social media. Tag your favorite Black-owned businesses, use #BlackBusinessMonth, and help them reach new customers.
• Refer and recommend. Word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool. Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about Black-owned businesses you love.
• Invest and partner. If you're a business owner yourself, consider partnering with Black-owned suppliers and vendors.

The Road Ahead

Black entrepreneurs are not waiting for permission to build. They are building right now — in garages and co-working spaces, in hospital boardrooms and tech incubators, in kitchens and construction sites across Atlanta and across America.

The challenge now is to ensure that this growth is supported, sustained, and celebrated. That means advocating for equitable access to capital, fighting against discriminatory lending practices, and creating the community networks that help Black businesses survive their first five years and thrive for decades.

This August, let's put our dollars where our pride is. Support Black business. Build Black wealth. Celebrate Black excellence.

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