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Black Eco Chamber
(opens in a new tab)The Black Eco Chamber is a business development incubator designed to serve black-owned businesses.
What can a career alongside music legends teach you about your own next move?
BECO invites you to The Blueprint of a Legend: Michael Jackson and the Creative Minds Who Shaped an Era, presented by The Artist Workshop.
Join entertainment executive Steven Ray, a creative collaborator to Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, for a conversation moderated by artist, entrepreneur, and advocate Shyan Selah.
You don’t have to work in entertainment to find value in this discussion. Growing your network, building trusted relationships, and learning how to navigate career opportunities matter whether you’re running a business, advancing professionally, or pursuing a creative path.
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 12–3 p.m.
📍 MOPOP | 325 5th Ave N, Seattle
🎟️ BECO members: $25 | General admission: $40
Current Artist Workshop members: $20
Free for Students with valid student ID (NOTE: Students must register at theartistworkshop.org).
Hear the stories behind the artistry and consider what those experiences can teach you about your own professional journey.
BECO Members, reserve your seat here: www.blackecochamber.com/event/the-blueprint-of-a-legend-michael-jackson-and-the-creative-minds-wh...
#BECO #TheArtistWorkshop #CareerGrowth
Happy Monday to our Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs!
Before the holidays arrive, take some time to give your business a clear financial check-in. 📊
Review these four numbers:
01, Cash on hand: How many months of runway do you have heading into the slow season?
02, Your 80/20: Which 20% of your clients or products carries 80% of your revenue?
03, Unpaid invoices: What can you follow up on now before the year closes?
04, Your January plan: What will January look like, and what do you need to set aside?
A thoughtful Q4 review can help you make stronger decisions, protect your cash flow, and enter the new year with intention. As we continue toward Small Business Saturday on November 28, 2026, use this checklist to stay prepared.
Save this post for your year-end review, and share it with a fellow founder. Which number are you checking first? ⬇️
Find year-round business education, resources, and community at beconw.com.
#becoblueprint #BlackBusiness #washingtonentrepreneurs #q4plannin
So many small business owners start off unwillingly sacrificing their prospects for profit because they set prices that only cover their costs.
And, many founders undercharge because they guess instead of tracking expenses, compare themselves to the cheapest option, discount before anyone asks, or price from fear. Your expertise deserves a stronger foundation.
Here's where you start:
1. Find your floor.
Direct costs + overhead + your pay + profit = your minimum sustainable price.
2. Price the value.
Your client is paying for more than your hours. Consider the result delivered, time saved, risk reduced, access created, or revenue enabled.
3. Raise rates with clarity.
For existing clients, give notice, explain the updated scope and rate, name the transition date, and hold the boundary. You do not need to over-explain or apologize for building a sustainable business.
Your price is part of your business strategy, not a measure of your worth. Save this for your next pricing review, and share it with a founder who needs the reminder.
Find more resources for growing your business at beconw.com.
#BlackEntrepreneurs #WashingtonBusiness #BusinessGrowth #PricingStrategy #BECOBlueprint
Talent gets attention. Relationships help build a career.
On October 17, explore the experiences behind an extraordinary entertainment career and the lessons that reach beyond the industry.
The Blueprint of a Legend: Michael Jackson and the Creative Minds Who Shaped an Era features entertainment executive Steven Ray, a creative collaborator to Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, in conversation with @shyanselah .
Building a business? Considering your next career move? Looking to strengthen your professional network? Bring that ambition to the conversation.
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
🕛 12–3 p.m.
📍 MOPOP, Seattle
🎟️ $25 for BECO members
$40 general admission
$20 for current Artist Workshop members
Free with valid student ID (NOTE: students must register at www.theartistworkshop.org)
Reserve your seat through the link in our bio.
#BECO #TheArtistWorkshop #StevenRay #ShyanSelah #CareerDevelopment #SeattleEvents
Happy Monday to our Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs!
Before the holidays arrive, take some time to give your business a clear financial check-in. 📊
Review these four numbers:
01, Cash on hand: How many months of runway do you have heading into the slow season?
02, Your 80/20: Which 20% of your clients or products carries 80% of your revenue?
03, Unpaid invoices: What can you follow up on now before the year closes?
04, Your January plan: What will January look like, and what do you need to set aside?
A thoughtful Q4 review can help you make stronger decisions, protect your cash flow, and enter the new year with intention. As we continue toward Small Business Saturday on November 28, 2026, use this checklist to stay prepared.
Save this post for your year-end review, and share it with a fellow founder. Which number are you checking first? ⬇️
Find year-round business education, resources, and community at beconw.com.
#BECOBlueprint #BlackBusiness #WashingtonEntrepreneurs #Q4Plannin
So many small business owners start off unwillingly sacrificing their prospects for profit because they set prices that only cover their costs.
And, many founders undercharge because they guess instead of tracking expenses, compare themselves to the cheapest option, discount before anyone asks, or price from fear. Your expertise deserves a stronger foundation.
Here`s where you start:
1. Find your floor.
Direct costs + overhead + your pay + profit = your minimum sustainable price.
2. Price the value.
Your client is paying for more than your hours. Consider the result delivered, time saved, risk reduced, access created, or revenue enabled.
3. Raise rates with clarity.
For existing clients, give notice, explain the updated scope and rate, name the transition date, and hold the boundary. You do not need to over-explain or apologize for building a sustainable business.
Your price is part of your business strategy, not a measure of your worth. Save this for your next pricing review, and share it with a founder who needs the reminder.
Find more resources for growing your business at beconw.com.
#BlackEntrepreneurs #WashingtonBusiness #BusinessGrowth #PricingStrategy #BECOBlueprint
#MondayMotivation: Pain can leave us discouraged, but it can also reveal the work we are uniquely positioned to do.
When Florida State Representative Angie Nixon saw books about Black history and culture being restricted in public schools, she transformed her frustration into action. She opened Café Resistance, a Jacksonville bookstore and coffee shop featuring Black authors, Black history and titles that had been challenged or removed.
What began as a response to book bans has grown into a community hub offering tutoring, Black history lessons, wellness workshops, parenting programs, music lessons and other resources.
Her story reminds us that pain does not have to be the end of the story. When directed with purpose, it can become the foundation for a business, program or institution that addresses the very problem that caused it.
This week, ask yourself: What challenge have I experienced that could become a solution for someone else?
Channel the pain. Clarify the purpose. Build something that moves the community forward.
Read more from @blavity: https://blavity.com/angie-nixon-fought-floridas-book-bans-by-opening-a-bookstore-for-banned-titles
#MondayMotivation #BECO #PurposeDrivenBusiness #CommunityEnterprise #BlackEntrepreneurship
When a Black-owned business closes, scales back or disappears, our community loses more than a place to shop or eat. We can also lose history, jobs, gathering spaces and a foundation that one generation worked to leave for the next.
@emmasbbqseattle is fighting to preserve a family tradition built on recipes passed down for more than 100 years. After four years operating concessions at Lumen Field, the business lost that opportunity despite investing approximately $50,000 to $60,000 in equipment while preparing for future growth. The change reportedly eliminated about 65% of its revenue.
Now, owner Tess Thomas Anderson, her granddaughter Miceala Thomas and their family are rebuilding through their Rainier Avenue restaurant, catering and renewed community support.
This story is a reminder that resilience matters, but resilience should not be the only resource available to Black businesses. Intentional spending, referrals, partnerships and institutional opportunities all help established community businesses survive major setbacks.
Emma’s BBQ is participating in the Pack the House campaign. If you are in the Seattle area, consider putting your support into action.
Read more from @seattlemedium or get the story from the link in our bio.
#BECO #SupportBlackBusiness #SeattleBusiness #BlackOwnedRestaurant #BuyBlack
3 Signs Your Business Is Ready for Its First Hire 🚀
Your first hire should create capacity: not just add activity. Here are 3 signs your business may be ready to grow from solo operator to first team member:
1. Demand and revenue are consistently outpacing your capacity.
You’re turning away work, delaying delivery, or spending too much time on tasks that keep you from serving customers and driving growth. One busy week isn’t enough: look for a sustained pattern.
2. Your workflows are repeatable.
You can explain how key tasks get done, document the steps, and identify work someone else can own with training and clear expectations. If every process lives only in your head, document before you delegate.
3. You have financial visibility.
You understand your cash flow, know what payroll and onboarding would realistically cost, and have a responsible plan for sustaining the role: not just covering the first pay period.
Before posting the job, define the role, responsibilities, budget, and success measures. Hire to solve a clear business need: not simply to create more activity.
Building that clarity is part of growing well. Explore more of BECO’s business education, workshops, and community resources at beconw.com.
#BlackBusiness #BlackEntrepreneurs #SmallBusinessGrowth #BECO
A single purchase matters but consistent support creates staying power.
At BECO’s February 2026 Expo, Monika C. Mathews showcased products from her @queencareproducts_1 brand. Her growth as an entrepreneur is an inspiring reminder of the creativity and excellence within Washington’s Black business community.
When you discover a Black-owned business, don’t let your support end at checkout:
• Come back regularly
• Leave a thoughtful review
• Refer friends, family, and colleagues
• Share the business’s story online
• Like, comment on, and share its content
• Recommend the business when opportunities arise
• Bring someone new through the door
These small actions add up to stronger businesses, more jobs, greater community wealth, and lasting economic power.
Supporting Black businesses is not just a transaction: it’s a commitment to helping our communities grow and thrive.
Tell us in the comments: Which Black-owned business should our community support next?
BECO is here to connect entrepreneurs, businesses, and supporters across Washington State. Learn more and join the community at beconw.com.
#SupportBlackBusinesses #BuyBlack #BlackEconomicPower #BECO
