Consumers care more than ever about making sure their purchase decisions represent their values, especially younger generations. Ninety percent of Gen Zers believe companies should address racial equality, according to a 2021 McKinsey study.
While younger consumers recognize the importance of spending consciously to support entrepreneurs and minority merchants, it’s not always easy for customers to find Black-owned small businesses to patronize. However, directories and Google’s Black-owned business designation on business profile cards make them easier to identify.
These 17+ business directories seek to increase the visibility of Black-owned small businesses and help conscious consumers connect with minority-owned brands. If you’re a Black business owner, it’s worthwhile to list your company on these sites to help new customers find your venture.
[Read more: 10 Resources for Black-Owned Businesses]
Black Business Green Book
The civil rights advocacy group Color of Change launched Black Business Green Book to support Black-owned businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Business Green Book offers ways to browse businesses in many different categories, including home goods, fashion, health and wellness, books, and art. One of the great features of this directory is that submitting a business is easy, and your customers can even do it for you by filling out a form here.
Black Directory
Black Directory offers consumers Black-owned-and-operated products and services. Black Directory works hard for its members to level the playing field in business. It advocates for members to obtain federal and government contracts, access capital from financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, and networking and marketing opportunities to continually promote and grow Black businesses.
Black Directory has over 50,000 consumers on its email list, so businesses can reach local and national audiences by becoming members. Interested businesses can choose their tiers of membership. Diamond members receive premium benefits like the first look at contracts and mentorship opportunities with seven-figure Black-owned company leaders.
BlackOwnedAssociation.com (BOA)
BlackOwnedAssociation.com (BOA) is a network connecting Black-owned businesses with consumers. While most of the businesses on the platform are located in North America, consumers can shop with Black-owned businesses in hundreds of categories from all over the world. There is no cost for a business to add a listing on the platform and it also offers opportunities for advertising.
Black-Owned Brooklyn
A husband-and-wife team founded Black-Owned Brooklyn in 2018 to help elevate businesses in their community. While the directory only lists Brooklyn-based businesses, Black-Owned Brooklyn also features stories from founders and business owners that can be a great resource for other merchants.
Black Woman Owned
As of 2022, Black women start businesses at a higher rate than white women and men. But the percentage drops as businesses mature, with only 3% continuing to run mature businesses.
Black Woman Owned seeks to scale visibility and success for Black women-owned businesses and create an economy in which they thrive. The website operates an aggregate listing of Black women-owned businesses for both products and professional services, sends a newsletter with giveaways and new content, and sells a "Moment Box" curated with luxury products from seven Black women-owned retailers.
To join, navigate to the Contact Page to fill out the form and provide the requested information.
[Read: Women-Owned Business Directories]
ByBlack
The U.S. Black Chambers, with support from American Express, developed an extensive directory and certification program for Black business owners to join called ByBlack. Black-owned businesses can join the directory for free by supplying the name of the business and the business owner; the business’s website, phone number, and address; and the business category, description, and NAIC/Industry code. Those interested in the certification must be majority-owned, operated, managed, and controlled by a Black/African American person or persons, among a few other requirements.
Black businesses looking to list themselves on ByBlack’s directory, receive the ByBlack certification, or both, can do so at no cost. Navigate to the ByBlack website to take the next step in verifying your business and joining the directory.
Chez Nous Guide
Don’t miss the beautifully designed Chez Nous Guide: “a volunteer-run inclusive and intersectional home for businesses, artists and organizations owned and run by historically marginalized people around the world and our allies.” You can find businesses owned by women, LGBTQIA+ merchants, and BIPOC entrepreneurs in major cities around the world. Search using several different filters, including category and place, or use the “go explore” button. This site includes more than 200 Black-owned businesses.
EatOkra
EatOkra is a directory of Black-owned restaurants, featuring over 2,500 restaurants around the United States. Users can search by cuisine and location, and even order delivery—the app will connect you to GrubHub or DoorDash so you can seamlessly order from those listings. If you prefer to visit in person, EatOkra will give you directions from your location or connect you to a rideshare service like Lyft. Listing on EatOkra is a great way for Black restaurateurs to reach new customers, earn more clicks on delivery platforms, and boost their visibility.
In addition to business directories like the sites listed here, there are dozens of marketplaces that sell products from Black creators. These marketplaces differ from directories in that customers can browse and order directly from the site.
I Am Black Business
I Am Black Business offers an affordable, one-time membership cost for access to join the Black Business Search Engine, niche product sites, and more. It offers a mobile app to search for Black-owned businesses wherever consumers travel.
In addition, users can “claim” their business, if it’s already listed, to update information like social media handles, business descriptions, and more.
Marketplaces for Black-owned products
In addition to business directories like the sites listed here, there are dozens of marketplaces that sell products from Black creators. These marketplaces differ from directories in that customers can browse and order directly from the site. Here are a few to explore:
- Bifties: This gifting site offers candles, jewelry, books, journals, and more, all from Black-owned brands. It also offers a build-your-own gift box service. Notably, 5% of Bifties’ online sales are donated to 501c(3)s that support the Black community.
- Blaamazon: This marketplace connects Black and minority-owned brands with Black consumers. It was founded in 2020 and hopes to eventually provide scholarships, business funding, and much more, in addition to e-commerce.
- Black-Owned Market (BOM): BOM started as a pop-up in New York City, and grew to generate over six figures for Black business owners listed on the platform during its first year. The site largely features beauty and self-care brands, as well as home goods and household cleaning products.
- BLK + GRN: This marketplace aims to connect Black women with non-toxic personal care products created by Black entrepreneurs. It features 136+ all-natural products created by Black artisans—products that are all quality-tested, plant-based, and cruelty-free.
- Bold Xchange: This corporate gifting partner sources specialty products from Black-owned brands. While not a traditional marketplace, Bold Xchange sells pre-curated gifts as well as custom gift sets with industry-specific items or local brands.
- HellaBlack: HellaBlack’s mission is to provide a premium e-commerce marketplace featuring the most sought-after Black-owned brands and products. Black business owners also gain access to the marketplace’s resource center and marketing system.
National Black Guide
The Black directory from National Black Guide is one of a suite of services the organization offers to Black business owners and entrepreneurs. The National Black Guide regularly promotes featured businesses on its homepage, as well as links to events, news, and city-specific pages for major metropolitan areas. The National Black Guide also offers an app that helps users find Black businesses, local events, information, and resources in their area.
Official Black Wall Street
Official Black Wall Street is one of the largest business directories for Black-owned businesses, with over 5,000 listings in 10 countries. Through the app, business owners can create a listing with reviews, photos, directions and more. The app also alerts users when they’re near a Black-owned business to help increase foot traffic.
The Nile List
Founded by Khadijah Robinson, The Nile List brings Black creators of retail products to interested customers. The Nile List ensures that whatever a consumer wants to buy online, there’s someone Black who makes it. Not only does The Nile List uplift Black brands, but it also takes consumers’ other values in mind too, giving designations like “vegan,” “woman-owned,” “natural,” and “handmade” to satisfy each buyer’s needs.
Black business owners who want to see their business and products on The Nile List can register through a specific form on the site — but note that as of January 2023, The Nile List is temporarily not accepting new business.
Shop Black Owned
Shop Black Owned is a business directory specific to eight cities at the moment, with more to come: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Shop Black Owned is a free, crowdsourced, and map-based tool that makes it easy to find a Black-owned business in your immediate area. There are more than 1,000 businesses listed and more added every day. To get your business listed or city added, send an email to shopblackowned@coastapp.com.
Support Black Owned
The Support Black Owned directory has been around since 2012, generating many listings over the years. It offers both a website database and an app, as well as advertising options for Black-owned businesses and user reviews and ratings. Search by state, category, or even country一Support Black Owned lists businesses in 30-plus countries.
[Read more: Resources for Minority-Owned Businesses]
WeBuyBlack
WeBuyBlack has been around since 2015. “Today, it’s the largest e-marketplace for Black-owned businesses,” reports Fast Company. What’s great about this directory is it shows customers how to make the switch from big brands to Black-owned brands for everyday consumer goods, such as cleaning supplies and toothpaste. It also has lots of deals on free and fast shipping.
Virginia Black Business Directory
Based in Virginia, the Virginia Black Business Directory works to close the wealth gap and bring equity to Black-owned businesses in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland (DMV) region. As a 501(c)3 organization, the Virginia Black Business Directory uses community collaboration, provides educational opportunities, and organizes networking events and programs to amplify Black voices.
Founded in 2020, the business already has over 1,200 businesses on its extensive list and hundreds of thousands of social media impressions. Membership costs $50 for the year and grants access to mentoring and networking opportunities. In addition to having a directory listing, members also enjoy benefits like exclusive coupons and deals, business development resources, and more.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.
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