August Is National Black Business Month: Here's How Indianapolis Shows Up

Every August, National Black Business Month puts a spotlight on the millions of Black-owned businesses driving the American economy, and on the gap between what they contribute and the support they receive. In Indianapolis, it's more than a hashtag. It's a 31-day invitation to discover the restaurants, salons, studios, shops, and service pros in your own neighborhood, and this year, to meet them face to face.

What Is National Black Business Month?

National Black Business Month was founded in 2004 by two Black entrepreneurs: engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr. and publisher John William Templeton. Jordan knew firsthand how hard it was to access capital when he started his engineering firm in San Francisco, and together they created the observance to highlight Black-owned businesses, drive policy that supports them, and encourage all of us to put our dollars where our values are.

Two decades later, the numbers show why the month still matters:

• For the first time, there are more than 200,000 Black-owned employer businesses in the U.S., generating $249 billion in annual revenue and supporting 1.8 million jobs (U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Business Survey).
• Black-owned employer firms grew 62% between 2017 and 2023, one of the fastest growth rates of any group, and their revenue has nearly doubled over the same period.
• Yet Black-owned businesses still make up only about 3% of all U.S. firms, while Black Americans are roughly 14% of the population.

That gap is the whole point of the month. Growth is real, momentum is real, and there's still a lot of room to close.

Black Business in Indianapolis: Momentum Worth Celebrating

Indy has its own story to tell. Analyses of Census data put Black ownership at just under 4% of Indianapolis-area businesses, while Black residents make up about 15% of the city. But the trend line is moving fast:

• Black-owned business openings in the Indianapolis area grew 59% year over year in recent Yelp data, among the strongest growth in the country.
• Marion County posted 25.4 new business applications per 1,000 residents, one of the nation's largest entrepreneurship gains.
• Right here on Indy Black Businesses, our directory has grown to 600+ Black-owned businesses across 39 Indiana cities, from Indianapolis to Fort Wayne, Gary to Evansville, spanning more than 200 categories.

In other words: the businesses are here. This month is about making sure the customers, connections, and capital find them.

How to Celebrate Black Business Month in Indy

You don't need a big budget to make August count. Here's what actually moves the needle:

1. Shop the directory. Browse 600+ Black-owned businesses across Indiana by city and category. Pick one new business to try each week of August. That's four new favorites by Labor Day.

2. Leave a review. A five-star review on a business's IBB listing or Google profile is free for you and gold for them. Reviews drive discovery.

3. Show up in person. Follow a business on Instagram, share their posts, and come out to a Black Business Month event (we've got the perfect one below).

4. If you own a business, get visible. List your business free or claim your existing listing so customers searching Indy can actually find you. Then check the grants and funding page. New opportunities are posted all the time.

5. Spend intentionally. Redirecting even a portion of your regular spending (coffee, haircuts, catering, taxes, T-shirts) to Black-owned businesses is the founding idea of the month, and it compounds.

The Link Up: Indy's Black Business Month Mixer, August 27

This year, Indy Black Businesses isn't just marking the month online. We're getting everyone in one room.

The Link Up is our new event series, launching during National Black Business Month. Vol. 1 is a free evening social where Indy's Black-owned businesses and the people who love supporting them finally meet face to face: not to buy, not to sell, just to link up.

What to expect:

• The open mic: owners get 60 seconds to introduce their business to the whole room. It gets loud.
• Meet the owners: talk directly to the people behind the businesses you already follow.
• The Barter Board: Owners post what they offer or what they're missing, and connect when something clicks.

The details:

• 📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026 · 6:00–8:00 PM
• 📍 SipEasy Social Haus (SESH), 901 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46204

• 🎟️ Free with RSVP: Reserve your spot on Eventbrite

Whether you run a business or just love supporting local, you're invited. No pitch decks, no dress code, no ticket beyond a free RSVP. #TheLinkUpIndy

Frequently Asked Questions

Indy Black Businesses is Indiana's home for the Black-owned economy: a free directory, funding hub, and community for Black-owned businesses and the people who support them. Get listed · Explore businesses · Find grants