Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Black Enterprise Magazine
Starting and operating a new business can be an exciting and rewarding venture. It can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment and personal fulfillment as one’s individual goals are achieved. But it can also prove to be a time of uncertainty and confusion. And even if one doesn’t own a business, the thought of handling financial matters can lead many to procrastinate until it is too late.
For those who fit one of the two above scenarios, there is a magazine publication designed to help you. It is called Black Enterprise, a monthly periodical chock full of tips and guidance for small business owners and non- owners who want to know more about personal finance.
Features of This Magazine:
Each issue of Black Enterprise contains between 120 and 150 pages with the following monthly departments:
Publisher’s Page- Earl Graves, the magazine’s chief editor and publisher, writes this one- page opener to each issue.
About the Issue- Another one- page opener, this helps to summarize one or more key stories in each issue.
Letters- These are the monthly letters to the editor, sent in by the magazine’s readers.
Unlimited Options- This is found near the end of each issue, and it contains information on BE products and services, events to attend, etc.
Back Talk- This is the closing article in each magazine, and it features a black celebrity who has succeeded in business, complete with a question and answer interview.
Newspoints- A few short articles can be found here, with each one covering news and statistics about the black community and business life.
Moneywise- Investment advice, retirement savings, homeownership, mutual fund picks, and other investment tips and strategies comprise this section.
Enterprise- Here, you will find stories about successes, challenges, start- up issues, and other things related to free enterprise.
Techwatch- Keeping internet and tech savvy is the goal of this section, with stories about e- business, electronics, technology investments, etc.
Powerplay- Some of the sub- categories here include “diversity watch” and “making connections”. They all talk about dealing with people.
Motivation- Self- starting tips and attitude development are part of this section of the magazine.
Shopsmart- This section has articles that deal with discounts, buying in bulk, and other strategies of smart shopping.
Lifestyle- This section talks about living the good life, with articles about fashion, flashy vehicles, travel, etc.
There are about ten to fifteen other articles in each issue of BE, unique to each issue, that talk about financial planning, business strategy, taxes, success stories, careers, entrepreneurship, and other topics.
Cost to Subscribe:
Black Enterprise carries a base subscription price of $17.95 per year. This works out to $1.50 per issue, or a savings of 62 percent off the $3.95 cover price. This base rate is overpriced, however. Searching through on- line magazine web pages, I was able to find several that were selling this magazine at a lower cost, with offers for $13, $12, $10, and some as low as $9 for a one- year subscription.
Customer Service:
Questions about this magazine can be directed toward the publication’s web site, blackenterprise.com. If you would like to talk to someone at BE, there are offices located in Chicago (312-664-8667), Los Angeles (310-552-6900), and New York City (212-242-4000), which serves as the headquarters.
Final Thoughts:
“Black Enterprise” is an excellent monthly periodical aimed at the African American community and others who enjoy reading about business, personal finance, careers, and other relevant topics on a personal/family level. This magazine covers everything from owning and operating a business to saving for retirement and education and its advice is very accurate and timely.
I first learned about BE many years ago when I was casually browsing through the magazines at a local bookstore. When I first saw the title, I assumed this magazine would have little of value for me. I assumed wrongly that it was completely focused on the African American community and the unique needs and concerns of this group exclusively. I quickly learned that, while BE does focus on stories about black individuals and their successes, it contained great advice that could be applied toward anyone, regardless of race or ethic background.
What stands out most about this magazine and makes it so readable are the excellent personal stories. Yes, there are plenty of “fantasy” articles about wealthy black athletes and entertainers and the vast fortunes they have accumulated. But there are even more articles about everyday people like you and me; with personalized stories illustrating how they and their families managed to establish a plan and achieve their respective financial goals. These personal stories make the magazine very readable and enjoyable, because the majority of them feature ordinary people with financial concerns that specific people can relate to. For example, in a recent issue, there is an article about a single black woman who has invested a great deal in her education and is now entering the workaday world with high aspirations, while she also tries to take care of an aging parent. The article breaks down her assets, debt, and personal income and explains what she needs to do if she wants to improve her financial condition in the shortest amount of time. This, and other articles like it, is similar to the situations faced by thousands and even millions of people every day.
It’s nice to read a magazine that is so full of optimism about personal finance, business ownership, and the future in general. And on top of that, BE has another important element that adds to its many positive qualities: It offers a dose of realism. Some financial magazines talk about getting rich and all the great things that come with affluence and they make it sound like anyone can do this in a short amount of time with little effort. As most of us know, reaching lofty goals is possible, but it isn’t going to come easily and it isn’t going to take place overnight. Black Enterprise knows this, and it keeps its articles on a realistic plane, showing how you can work toward a goal and achieve it with the right level of discipline and determination. It won’t happen instantly, and it probably won’t happen in a few months. But financial goals are reachable with the right game plan in place.
Advertising covers about fifty percent of the pages in each issue of this magazine, with the ads covering things like cars, clothing, personal grooming, investments, travel, franchises for sale, and other relevant topics. There are often many lists in this magazine (a popular standby in many magazines, due to their popularity with readers), ranking things like mutual fund performance, costs for business licenses, most affluent blacks, and other rankings.
Overall, this is one of the best personal finance and business magazines available on the market today. Don’t let the title of the magazine fool you- there is plenty to be read about and learned in Black Enterprise, whether you’re black, white, yellow, or anything else. And the magazine isn’t just for business owners or even aspiring business owners. There are lots of great articles about savings, investment, education, home financing, and other topics that can apply to anyone at any stage in life. It all combines to make Black Enterprise an excellent publication for those who have an active interest in their own personal financial health.
Recommended:
Yes
Primary Reason for Buying: Articles Recommended For: Personal Finance/Education
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