August is National Black Business Month, and we recognize the Black-owned businesses across the country.

Black business owners account for about 10 percent of U.S. businesses and about 30 percent of all minority-owned businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, that amounts to approximately two million companies owned by African Americans. Nearly 40 percent of black-owned businesses are in health care and social assistance, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services. Other categories include advertising firms, auto dealerships, consulting services, restaurants, barbershops, beauty salons, and more.

HISTORY

Historian John William Templeton and engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr founded National Black Business Month in August 2004 to “drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African-American businesses.

Among cities, New York has the most black-owned businesses in the U.S. followed by Atlanta. The highest ratio of black-owned businesses is in Washington, DC where 28% of all businesses are black-owned. The growth of black-owned franchise businesses has been explosive. In 2012 over 30% of franchise businesses were black-owned, up from about 20% five years previous.

Explore More…

• Scottish-American Heritage
• Caribbean American Heritage
• Asain American and Pacific Islander Heritage
• Gathering of Nations
• Black History Month
• African World Heritage
• Juneteenth
• Black Business Month
• Black Poetry
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• German American Heritage
• Native American Heritage
• Irish American Heritage
• Italian-American Heritage
• Native American Heritage Day
• Jewish American Heritage Month

HOW TO OBSERVE

Support and encourage African American-owned businesses in your community. Learn more about business opportunities for the African American community. Use #NationalBlackBusinessMonth in social media correspondence. Discover more on the Black Business Month website.

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