4 ways you can support Black-owned businesses beyond February

Supporting Black-owned businesses is a powerful way to help close the racial wealth gap, build economic empowerment, and contribute to creating more inclusive communities. While February is a time to celebrate and honor Black History, it’s important to keep that support year-round. 

My career supporting Black brands online as @marissatanee, formerly @retailwhileblack, began with the simple act of sharing representation. As I became more involved with small businesses and my community, I saw a significant gap on both sides. Consumers needed a way to discover and support Black businesses, and Black brands needed effective advertising. I had the platform to bridge that divide.

Since then, I’ve grown my audience to over five hundred thousand people across all platforms and established myself as a leading expert on consumer retail education, specifically for Black-owned brands. As a result of being featured on my pages, brands often see their sales soar, resulting in something I call the “Marissa Effect.”

I’m thrilled to be partnering with QuickBooks to share four ways you can support Black-owned businesses beyond February:

Practice intentional spending habits

Spending intentionally means making thoughtful decisions about where and how you spend your money and aligning your purchases with your values and priorities. It considers the impact of your spending choices, whether it's supporting a cause, community, or specific group of people. By shopping with Black-owned businesses, no matter where you encounter them, you're contributing to a steady, supportive ecosystem that helps them thrive for years to come. A common concern I hear from people when discussing the barriers to shopping Black is that they feel overwhelmed, thinking they need to change everything all at once. But small changes are just as important! Swap out everyday items like toothpaste or laundry detergent for Black-owned alternatives. Starting with one item at a time can make a huge difference. Another challenge is not knowing where to start or where to find Black-owned brands. A simple search like "Black-owned toothpaste" in your browser will bring up several options, some of which may even be available at your local stores. The act of buying from Black-owned companies, regardless of the platform, plays a vital role in ensuring their success and continuing their impact in the community.

Drive awareness through word of mouth and gifting

Offline, word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways small Black-owned businesses get discovered. For special occasions like holidays and birthdays, I love gifting Black-owned items such as lipsticks, candles, and books. For my husband's first gift as a married couple, I gave him a Black-owned watch from a "new-to-him" brand. He loved it so much he went back for two more! Gifting Black-owned is a simple, thoughtful way to introduce others to something they might love but wouldn't have tried on their own. 

Online, consider posting a review or tagging the business on your socials to help them grow their online presence. According to findings from the 2025 Intuit QuickBooks Black History Month Survey, social media has emerged as a critical driver for Black small business success, helping them promote products and services (64%), build brand awareness (51%), and engage with customers (50%).  In 2020, I started a social media page, sharing Black Santa wrapping paper and ornaments. I didn’t realize how many people would be just as excited as I was! As my page grew, I dedicated my platform to supporting Black-owned businesses, and it has since grown to over 500K followers across platforms! As a result, my community has helped brands expand nationally. 

Facilitate impactful business-to-business collaborations

For businesses, consider collaboration opportunities—such as events or pop-ups—that can benefit both parties financially. According to the Intuit QuickBooks Black History Month Survey, community ties are evident in Black small businesses’ purchasing behaviors, with 9 in 10 (91%) supporting other Black-owned businesses in the past year—proving that community can be a powerful engine for success.

This is especially important if the business is newly opened and you want to help ensure it sticks around. According to a report from the National Bureau of Economic Research, Black-owned businesses are less likely to receive venture capital funding, despite a significant increase in the number of Black startups in recent years. The lack of capital can hinder innovation and growth for Black-owned businesses, making steady streams of revenue and collaboration key to their success. 

This year, I partnered with a local bookstore and coffee shop in the Tampa Bay area to host an event where I read from and sold my book. By hosting the event at their business, I helped attract potential new customers while also introducing their loyal patrons to my book. This kind of collaboration not only fosters community connections but also strengthens the local economy, ensuring that both businesses grow together.

Power your business with essential growth tools 

Past and present discrimination in markets such as housing and banking has led to lower wealth for Black families. Part of achieving equity and generational wealth is through successful Black entrepreneurship. The Intuit QuickBooks Black History Month Survey revealed  30% of Black small businesses reported being denied a bank loan when starting operations—double that of their non-Black peers (15%).  Owning a business is expensive, and for Black business owners, it’s crucial to use every bit of capital as effectively as possible.

For me, QuickBooks has been an essential tool for streamlining my business and managing my finances. I use it to track expenses—such as the cost of ordering books for school visits, expenses for collaborations, and reviewing my profit and loss reports. Talking about money is often frowned upon but so important! My first year of doing business taxes was overwhelming and I didn’t know where to start. Managing your finances on your own can feel like a huge burden. Now that I have switched to QuickBooks I now have access to everything I need—tracking expenses, generating invoices, and reviewing financials—all from the home page. It’s been a game-changer for running my business efficiently and stress-free!

Conclusion

You do not have to throw out everything and start over. You can start one step at a time and before you know it you will be a supporter and advocate for Black businesses year round! Your intentional actions can have a lasting impact and contribute to building a more equitable economy. Thank you for taking the time to read and implement these steps! Let’s continue to uplift Black entrepreneurs, invest in their success, and create opportunities for growth and prosperity beyond February.