The Inc. 500 issue is one of the biggest business stories of the year, with extensive print and broadcast coverage that makes it more than just a major newsstand draw. It also has the greatest shelf life, often found on the desks of CEOs nationwide as the leading sourcebook of the fastest-growing private companies.
For over 25 years, Inc. has been the handbook of the American entrepreneur, a trusted sourcebook for how to start and grow their companies. Over the years, we have cataloged the success of many of these companies through our annual Inc. 500, a list of the 500 fastest-growing private businesses in the U.S. Unlike the Fortune 500 and other lists, companies must apply to be considered for the Inc. 500, demonstrating the unique relationship Inc. has with these companies, which have included such household names as Microsoft, Oracle, Qualcomm, The Sharper Image, Morningstar, and Timberland.
"The Fortune 500 is a record of America's past…the Inc. 500 is a window to its future."
– Tom Peters, co-author of In Search of Excellence
Inc. readers are more than business owners; they are builders:
- The 2007 Inc. 500 companies were engines of job growth, having created more than 72,000 jobs since those companies were founded.
- Aggregate revenue for the 2007 list was $18 billion, up 13% from 2006's $15.9 billion. The median revenue growth rate over three years was 949 percent.