Go to the publisher
We download or query the federal agency responsible for the data and link readers back to that source.
How we check information
See how we
check our work.
This page explains where our information comes from, how we check it, what our labels mean, and what we do when we are not sure.
Say what is included
For every source, we explain which people, businesses, places, or records are included.
Keep important details nearby
We show the date, area, unit, uncertainty, and missing-information rules beside the number.
Show the math
When we calculate a number, we show the numbers used and the steps we took.
Check the result
We look for duplicate records, impossible values, missing information, broken file matches, and totals that do not agree with the source.
Separate facts from our guidance
Published facts stay separate from our advice. We do not publish a combined rating until people can repeat and test the method.
National business directory
Three clear labels
“National” means we checked every record that met the rules for our listed public sources across all states and territories. It does not mean we found every Black-owned business. It also does not mean every listed business is still open.
An older public record supports Black ownership. We have not found a recent public record showing that the business is still open.
An older Black-ownership record matches a recent federal business record. Confirm details with the business.
Recent public records support both Black ownership and that the business is operating.
Community updates to the directory
Participation helps.
Evidence decides.
Owners and community members can fill gaps in public data, but a submission does not change the directory until the available evidence supports it.
A nomination, claim, correction, or removal request receives a private confirmation link.
We consider the public source, ownership statement, authority to act, location, and completeness.
We resolve duplicates, ownership evidence, current operation, location, category, and authority before publishing a change.
Each confirmation page can invite another nomination without revealing the first submitter’s contact details.
Professional marketplace
One profile.
Separate qualification checks.
Identity, business standing, credentials, insurance, and background screening are reviewed independently. A profile may leave search when evidence expires or important information changes.
Professionals build a private profile and attach public evidence before appearing in search.
“Not applicable,” “unable to verify,” and “expired” never become a generic verified badge.
Only approved profiles appear in search; saving an important change returns the profile to review.
Payment cannot influence rank, evidence status, approval, or publication.
Consumers choose what to share and receive a private confirmation page without exposing their message publicly.
Membership community
Belong first.
Publish deliberately.
Membership, profile discovery, audience access, and public posting are separate choices. Joining does not make a person or every contribution public.
Profiles start private. Pausing or closing membership hides community activity from discovery.
Contributions can be for the public, active members, or members of a specific joined circle.
Posts, replies, resources, and events are reviewed before they reach the intended audience.
Members receive notes and notifications about decisions; a report does not remove content automatically.
Member, post, reply, event, testimonial, and engagement counts reflect actual activity.
For people checking the math
Simple math.
Clear labels.
The codes below are the exact field names used by the original federal sources.
B02001_E003÷B01003_E001
We do not calculate a separate margin of error for this share.B25003_E002÷B25003_E001
Owner-occupied homes divided by all occupied homes.H_MEDIAN×2,080
We calculate this for display. It is not a separate federal estimate.Action 3÷Action 1 + 3
This is not the denial rate for every application.—/100
Before we publish a rating
You must be able
to test it.
We will not publish a BlackMaxxing rating until readers can inspect these seven things.
- Every fact and what it means
- The people or places the rating covers
- Every calculation
- How much each fact affects the result
- How missing information is handled
- How uncertainty is handled
- How places are matched and when data is updated