Forbes names 25 Black-owned businesses to watch
The first ForbesBLK list spotlights companies that together employ more than 16,000 people.
Forbes unveiled its first ForbesBLK list of 25 top Black-owned businesses to watch on September 28. The list recognizes Black-owned employer businesses, judged on revenue, growth, longevity and reputation in their industries.
Together the 25 companies employ more than 16,000 people. They include Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, the Tampa bottler founded and led by Troy Taylor, which reported $2.2 billion in 2025 revenue, and Voltava, the automotive manufacturing group founded by Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
Also named: McKissack, founded in 1905 and described as the nation's oldest Black-owned construction firm, with more than 6,000 completed projects; Thompson Hospitality, which serves dining at 18 HBCUs; Cityblock Health, serving nearly 200,000 members; and Squire Technologies, whose platform serves more than 3,000 barbershops.