The BeyGOOD Foundation grant application for salon and barbershop owners is hosted on the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) website, which administers the Cécred x BeyGOOD Salon & Barbershop Business Grant Program on behalf of the foundation and Cécred. The most recent business grant cycle ran May 23 through June 13, 2025, and awarded $10,000 to each of 37 owners nationwide. For 2026, the fund shifted to institutional grants for cosmetology and barbering schools, so no individual business grant window is currently open. If you own a shop, the practical step right now is to prepare your documents against the 2025 criteria and watch the official pages for the next announcement.
Who Qualifies for the Business Grant
The 2025 cycle required applicants to meet all four criteria below.1National Minority Supplier Development Council. The Cécred x BeyGOOD Salon and Barbershop Business Grant Program
- At least two years of experience as a licensed barber, hairstylist, or cosmetologist.
- Demonstrated financial hardship. The program targets owners in underserved communities or those who have weathered significant economic setbacks.
- Proof of salon or barbershop ownership, or a lease agreement for a salon, suite, booth, or chair. Independent stylists who rent booth space qualify if the lease is formal.
- At least one year of business operation at the time of application.
A brick-and-mortar storefront is not required as long as you hold a valid lease for your working space. Barbershop owners are eligible alongside salon owners. The 2025 business grant carried no geographic restriction within the United States, a change from the program’s earlier limited launch.2BeyGOOD. The CÉCRED x BeyGOOD Fund
Documents to Gather Before the Window Opens
The 2025 application window was only three weeks long. That is not much time to hunt for paperwork, so pull these together now:
- Proof of business ownership or lease: a deed, business registration, or signed lease for your salon, suite, booth, or chair. This is the single most important supporting document.1National Minority Supplier Development Council. The Cécred x BeyGOOD Salon and Barbershop Business Grant Program
- A current, unexpired cosmetology or barber license that satisfies your state or local regulatory board.
- Evidence of financial hardship. The program publishes no specific income cutoff, so recent tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, or bank statements are useful for showing your situation.
- Government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.
The form also asks how you plan to use the $10,000. Draft that answer in advance. Reviewers look for a direct connection between the grant and your business operations, whether that is equipment, rent, debt relief, or expanded services. A short narrative about your professional background and your work in the community around your shop strengthens the application.
Submitting Through NMSDC
The application is a web form on the NMSDC site, with mandatory fields marked by a red star. Program questions can be sent to beygood@nmsdc.org.
Fill each required field carefully. Make sure names, license numbers, and financial figures match your uploaded documents exactly, because mismatches can slow review or disqualify the application. Before you submit, use the review screen to check financial figures and license numbers; a single transposed digit is easy to miss. After submitting, you should see an on-screen confirmation and receive an automated email receipt. Save both.
What Happens After You Apply
The review committee evaluates applications over several weeks and sends status updates by email, so watch the address you registered with. You may be asked for additional verification before a final decision. Selected recipients are announced and then contacted to finalize the legal agreements before any funds move.
In 2025, 37 owners were chosen from a nationwide applicant pool, each receiving $10,000.3Cécred. Meet the Cécred x BeyGOOD Fund 2025 Recipients Funds are disbursed electronically, so you will need valid banking information (routing and account numbers) when finalizing your grant agreement. The money is intended for professional expenses tied to your business.
Taxes on a $10,000 Grant
A business grant of this kind counts as ordinary income on your federal return. The IRS defines gross income broadly, to include income “from whatever source derived,” and business grants fall within that definition even when the money comes from a charitable foundation.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 61 – Gross Income Defined BeyGOOD’s tax-exempt status belongs to the foundation, not to you as the recipient.
Sole proprietors report the income on Schedule 1 of Form 1040, Line 8z. Salons organized as a corporation or S-corp report on Form 1120 or Form 1120-S. Setting aside roughly 25 to 30 percent of the grant for taxes before you spend any of it is a practical safeguard.
Starting in 2026, the IRS raised the reporting threshold for information returns like Form 1099-MISC and Form 1099-NEC from $600 to $2,000.5Internal Revenue Service. General Instructions for Certain Information Returns A $10,000 grant is still well over that threshold, so expect a 1099 from the administrator. Even if one does not arrive, the income remains reportable. Keep the grant agreement and any disbursement confirmations with your tax records.
If You Are a Student, Not an Owner
The Cécred x BeyGOOD Fund also supports cosmetology and barbering students, and that track has its own eligibility criteria and timeline separate from the business grant. In 2025, $130,000 in scholarships reached 46 students.2BeyGOOD. The CÉCRED x BeyGOOD Fund For 2026, the fund is directing $25,000 to each of 10 cosmetology and barbering schools in the United States and United Kingdom, a total commitment of $250,000.6Cécred. BeyGood Grant and Philanthropy Efforts Check the BeyGOOD and Cécred sites for the current student application if that describes you.