National Black Business Month
Empowering communities and fostering economic growth through vibrant enterprises — championing the spirit of diversity in commerce.
Drive August sales and brand loyalty by spotlighting black-owned businesses and encouraging consumers to shift purchasing habits toward diverse entrepreneurs.
- Spotlight local black-owned gems: feature 5 must-try restaurants, boutiques, or beauty brands in your area
- Black women entrepreneurs are rising fastest—celebrate their growth with founder stories and product launches
- Challenge: tag your favorite black-owned business and nominate friends to shop small and diverse this August
- Partner with black-owned brands for co-marketing campaigns and exclusive August promotions
Campaign ideas8
- Spotlight Series: Feature one Black-owned business daily on social media with founder story, products, and direct purchase links (weekly themes: food/beverage, beauty, tech, fashion, services).
- Partner with Black influencers to curate and share their favorite local Black-owned businesses; offer them exclusive codes to share with followers for mutual benefit.
- Host a #ShopBlackSaturday photo contest encouraging customers to visit Black-owned businesses, take pics, and tag both the business and your brand for featured posts.
- Create a dedicated landing page or email roundup of vetted Black-owned brands/suppliers your company partners with—educate customers on these partnerships year-round.
- Launch a charitable tie-in: Donate a percentage of August sales from participating Black-owned brands to local business development organizations or Black entrepreneurs' grants.
- Run a video interview series highlighting the 'why' behind Black entrepreneurs—their journey, impact, and vision (5–10 min videos for socials).
- Co-host a virtual or in-person networking event, workshop, or pop-up marketplace bringing Black business owners together with suppliers, investors, and customers.
- Offer exclusive August discounts/bundles featuring multiple Black-owned brands, with visible "Black Business Month Celebration" branding.
Social angles6
- Every dollar you spend is a vote. This August, vote for the Black businesses building our community. Tap to shop. #BuyBlack #SupportBlackBusiness #BlackBusinessMonth
- Meet [Business Name]—a Black-owned [category] changing the game with [product/mission]. Your support keeps them thriving. Shop link in bio. #BlackBusinessMonth #AugustIsForUs
- Real businesses. Real stories. Real impact. Celebrating Black entrepreneurs who are creating jobs, wealth, and innovation. Featured this week: [Business]. #SupportBlackEntrepreneurs
- Not just a hashtag—a lifestyle. We're intentional about shopping Black this August and beyond. Who's your favorite Black-owned business? Drop it below! #BuyBlack #CirculateTheBlackDollar
- Black Business Month reminder: Support these incredible creators & founders ALL year long, not just in August. Full directory link in bio. #BlackBusinessMonth #AugustIsForUs
- From tech to beauty, food to fashion—Black entrepreneurs are innovating across every industry. Let's amplify them. Share your fave Black-owned biz. #SupportBlackBusiness
Ad copy starters6
“This August, we're putting Black entrepreneurs first. Discover products from [Brand Name] and 50+ more Black-owned businesses. Shop our curated collection.”
“Behind every product is a Black founder with a story. Meet [Founder]. Her journey, her vision, her business. Shop now and support economic equity.”
“Black Business Month starts now. 67% more people shop Black-owned businesses when they know the owner's story. We're making it easy. Click to explore.”
“Invest in Black excellence. Every purchase supports Black families, Black futures, Black innovation. Shop Black-owned brands this August.”
“We believe in circulating the Black dollar. That's why we're spotlighting Black entrepreneurs all month long. Join us. #BuyBlack”
“Black entrepreneurs generate millions for the U.S. economy. Yet they're still underrepresented on shelves and platforms. This August, let's change that.”
Tips4
- Lead with authenticity, not performativity: Partner with Black employees, influencers, or organizations in campaign creation—don't treat this as a one-month checkbox. Year-round commitment matters more than August visibility.
- Make it easy to transact: Whether you're highlighting businesses on social or featuring products in-store, provide direct links, QR codes, or purchase options. Awareness without access defeats the purpose.
- Avoid tone-deaf imagery: Research shows diverse audiences prefer seeing people in natural contexts (hand shots, partial views, activities) rather than formal headshots. Consult with Black creators on visual direction.
- Commit beyond marketing: Real support means stocking more Black-owned products, paying Black-owned vendors on time, offering mentorship, or donating to Black business development nonprofits. Consumers recognize performative gestures.
Getting its start in 2004, this annual event was established in partnership between an engineering entrepreneur and an executive editor of a publishing company to highlight and empower black business owners all over the country. National Black Business Month was founded with the purpose of showing appreciation for and supporting businesses, whether local or national, that are run and owned by people in the black community.
Because black business owners are often underrepresented, this month-long event provides an opportunity to focus a bit more on their contributions. From identifying and showing respect for the legacy they offer as well as encouraging wealth-building for black business owners for the future, this is a great time to make a difference.
In recent years, black-owned businesses have been on the rise in a number of sectors and industries including social work, health care, restaurants, beauty and more. Washington DC sits at the top of cities with high percentages of black owned businesses, followed by New York and Chicago.
National Black Business Month seeks to support those who are already running these businesses while encouraging others to consider starting their own black owned companies.
Promote Black Businesses
An excellent way for local community members to show support during National Black Business Month is to consider doing business with more companies owned by black people. This might mean trying out a new black-owned restaurant in the local area or it could be changing certain online buying habits to support black-owned brands. Don’t forget to tag a favorite black-owned business in social media posts to spread the word in support. From cosmetics to clothing and textiles, from books to financial products, black owned businesses can be found all over the nation, offering their unique take on products and services that meet the needs of their customers and communities, whether in person or online.
Start a Black Business
Folks who are considering whether to take a step forward and start a business might find Black Business Month to be the perfect motivator. Begin by doing some homework and reaching out to other black business owners in a similar sector to get their input, advice and support. Some statistics in recent years have shown that businesses owned by black women are particularly on the rise, at a faster rate than any other demographic in the US. Other events along these lines that can be celebrated throughout the year include National Black History Month in February, Black Love Day on February 13, and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21.