Inc. Magazine Unveils 29th Annual List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies -- the Inc. 500

NEW YORK, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. magazine today announced its 29th annual Inc. 500, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list spotlights the risk takers whose innovative business models and formidable execution have taken their companies to the top of the heap in terms of percentage revenue growth over the past three years. Companies such as Microsoft, Zappos, Intuit, GoDaddy, Zipcar, Clif Bar, American Apparel, Oracle, and many other well-known names gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500.

This year's fastest-growing company is Ambit Energy, a Dallas-based business that buys electricity and natural gas at wholesale prices and resells the energy to customers acquired through a direct sales channel. The company saw $325 million in revenue in 2009 and a three-year growth rate of 20,369 percent.

The 2010 Inc. 500, unveiled in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 24 to November 16 and on Inc.com), is a group of companies that are smaller but much faster-growing than last year's crop. Aggregate revenue is $11.3 billion -- down from last year's $18.4 billion -- but median three-year growth is 1,231 percent, substantially up from last year's 880.5 percent. The companies on this year's list employ more than 45,000 people. The largest company on the list, with $849 million in revenue, is also the oldest: Freedom Group, a manufacturer of firearms and ammunition, traces its roots back to the founding of Remington in 1816. Complete results of the Inc. 500, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found on Inc.com/500.

The Advertising & Marketing sector has the most companies on this year's Inc. 500 list, with 60. This industry shows aggregate revenue of more than $1 billion and a median growth rate of 1,266 percent. These companies delve into every possible niche in the field, from guerrilla and grass-roots marketing (WDFA Marketing, No. 5), to in-text advertising in online games (Future Ads, No. 56), to face-to-face marketing in kiosks and door-to-door marketing (Deluxe Marketing, No. 85), to messages played to callers while on hold (HoldCube, No. 95). Government Services is a close second, with 59 companies, aggregate revenue of $1.3 billion, and a median growth rate of 1,389 percent. Here we find companies supporting the military with health services (Luke & Associates, No. 3) and cultural awareness training (Lexicon Consultants, No. 4), as well as the broader federal government with general contracting (The Penna Group, No. 13; Ayuda Management, No. 22) and IT services (Insignia Technology Services, No. 29), to name a few.

"Fast growth at any time is a big achievement; fast growth during the past few years is just short of miraculous," said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. "The Inc. 500 consists of these just-short-of-miraculous companies, the ones that through ingenuity and ambition have increased revenue, hired employees, and grown fast in difficult economic times."

The Hottest Regions for Fast-Growing Companies

California continues to rule the roost by number of companies on the Inc. 500, with 92, up from 84 last year and 78 in 2008. The Golden State is followed by Texas (52), Virginia (46), New York (36), and Florida (29). These five states place in the same order as last year, and each of them has more companies on the 500 than last year. They now account for more than half of the companies on the list.

The New York City and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas both gain companies this year, and New York has catches up with Washington, with each of them boasting 48 Inc. 500 companies. (Washington had 42 last year; New York had 36.) San Francisco moves up from fifth to third place, with 29 companies (up nine from last year) Los Angeles drops from third to fourth place, with 27 companies (down nine from last year); and Dallas joins the top five, with 23 companies. Chicago drops out of the top five.

The Inc. 500 at a Glance

Computer Hardware is by far the fastest-growing industry on this year's Inc. 500, with a total growth rate of 7,194 percent. (That's thanks to the fact that the category contains just two very fast-growing companies.) Logistics & Transportation is second, with a rate of 2,783 percent, and Security is third, with a rate of 2,299 percent.

In total, the companies on the Inc. 500 employ more than 45,000 people. Government Services is the top employer, with 7,011 jobs, followed by Business Products & Services  (5,289), Consumer Products & Services (4,804), IT Services (4,355), and Advertising & Marketing (3,533).

Advertising & Marketing has the most companies on this year's Inc. 500 list, with 60, followed by Government Services (59), Business Products & Services (45), IT Services (41), and Software (36).

The top woman-run company is Lexicon Consulting (No. 4 overall), based in El Cajon, California. Lexicon creates mock Iraqi and Afghan villages used to train military personnel. The firm, founded by Jamie Arundell-Latshaw in 2005, recorded revenue of $17.9 million in 2009 and a three-year growth rate of 14,018 percent. The top minority-run company is WDFA Marketing (No. 5 overall), a San Francisco–based firm that specializes in guerrilla, grass-roots, and micro-marketing. WDFA, founded by Raj Prasad, posted revenue of $38.4 million in 2009 and a three-year growth rate of 13,350 percent.

The Inc. 500 posted aggregate revenue of $11.3 billion, down 39 percent from last year. Median three-year growth is 1,231 percent, up almost 40 percent over last year. The top five industries by total revenue are Consumer Products & Services ($1.9 billion), Government Services ($1.4 billion), Advertising & Marketing ($1 billion), Business Products & Services ($872 million), and Energy ($661 million).

Methodology

The 2010 Inc. 500 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2006 to 2009. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by June 30, 2006. Additionally, they had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent -- not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies -- as of December 31, 2009. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2006 is $80,000; the minimum for 2009 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. The companies of the Inc. 500 represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at www.inc.com/500.

About Inc. Magazine

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. (www.inc.com) is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today's innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 712,647, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. Visit us online at www.inc.com.

About the Inc. 500|5000 Conference

Each year, Inc. and Inc.com celebrate the remarkable achievements of today's entrepreneurial superstars -- the privately held small businesses that drive our economy. The Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony brings together members of the Inc. community, both a new class of Inc. 500|5000 honorees and the list's alumni, for three days of powerful networking, inspired learning, and momentous celebration. Please join us September 30–October 2, 2010, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, located minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. For more information about the 2010 Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony and to register, visit www.inc500conference.com or call 866-901-3205.

CONTACT: Kate Harris, 212-389-5520, [email protected] or Megan Burns, 212-389-5495, [email protected]

SOURCE Inc. Magazine