A Minority Business Enterprise (or MBE) is a business that is majority-owned by a minority. It sounds like a contradiction, but it’s true. Any business that is at least 51% owned by an African American, Hispanic, Asian or Native American qualifies. Lots of companies stress the importance of giving business and partnering with these firms because of the advantageous business opportunities that arise from it; in fact, some even set aside a certain percentage of their overall spending to these firms; this is the "diversity spend." If you’re not spending as much money as you’d like with these businesses, ask yourself why. Maybe your business isn’t connecting as well as it should with the core audiences of MBEs. If that is the case, maybe it’s time to reassess your strategy.

To increase your diversity spend, you’ll have to first find the MBEs that work well with your core business strategy and your products. Find compatible partners, because no matter what business it is, compatibility is the key. Finding the right fit may be like finding a needle in a haystack, but once you find that needle, it could be your way into an untapped market. Business partners benefit each other and offer something that the individual firms are simply unable to do on their own.

MBEs also have a certain clientele, and they know how to serve this clientele. Of course, you want to serve this clientele too. Who knows those customers better than the MBEs in their neighborhoods? These are the firms you should be partnering up with, because they can give you insight on business strategy and marketing that not only increases your sales amongst their customers, but increases their visibility amongst yours. It’s a win-win for both parties, and who doesn’t like a win-win? Investing your money in fostering a relationship with MBEs can prove to be a great strategy. Diversity spend really works.

MBEs will help you market your products in their neighborhoods and with their customers, giving you access to a segment of the population that you may not have had access to. Also, an increase in diversity spend will make sure that your business builds a reputation with people of diverse backgrounds. On the other hand, partnering with your business opens up an avenue for MBEs as well, getting their products and services into the minds and consciousness of people they may have not been able to reach. In the end, all the businesses involved make money, and who doesn’t like making money? Don’t answer that, it’s a rhetorical question.