The Greenwood business model

Principle 1: Serve a real need in your community

Greenwood businesses existed because segregation forced Black customers to spend with Black merchants. That coercion is gone — which means your competitive advantage today must be relationship, quality, and trust, not captive demand.

Ask: what does your community currently buy outside the community that you could provide?

Principle 2: Hire from inside

Every hire is a wealth-transfer decision. A $40,000 hire from inside the community recirculates that salary. A $40,000 hire from outside doesn't.

Principle 3: Train your own

Greenwood had two schools, multiple apprentice systems, and informal mentor networks. Modern equivalents: paid internships, formal mentorship, free training events, sharing your suppliers/vendors openly with other founders.

Principle 4: Keep the supply chain inside where possible

You won't source your espresso beans from a Black-owned roaster every time. But your accountant, your graphic designer, your lawyer, your printer — those are real choices.