I've been a subscriber to Inc. Magazine for a long time and follow the Inc. 500 list (a ranking of the fastest growing 500 privately held companies in the U.S.). Recently, Inc. also introduced the Inc. 5000 which is a ranking of the top 5,000 privately held companies (similar criteria to the Inc. 500).
Although I think 5,000 is too many companies to rank (and I think they're diluting the Inc. 500 brand), it's still only a fraction of the total privately held businesses out there. As such, my hat is off to all of those that made the recent Inc. 5000 list. [Blatantly immodest note: My first startup, Pyramid Digital Solutions, made the Inc. 500 list for 3 consecutive years back in the day, one of the few entrepreneurial accomplishments of which I am proud].
Inc. conducted a survey of the Inc. 5000 (2,710 responded) and published some interesting results.
Here are some of the highlights:
1. 88% of the respondents in 2006 said they are now millionaires (compared to 52% in 2003). 17% have a net worth exceeding $10 million.
2. 97% are planning on growing their business by hiring staff in the next 12 months.
3. 82% are self-financed (and only 4% received help from the SBA or government funds)
4. 7% plan on taking their company public in the future
5. 47% plan to start another company in the future. [Note: Shows that serial entrepreneurship as a pathology continues to grow]
6. 92% make over a $100k in 2006 (vs. only 59% in 2003)
7. 95% offer health insurance to their employees.
The full document can be found here: Inc. 5000 CEO Survey
Although I think 5,000 is too many companies to rank (and I think they're diluting the Inc. 500 brand), it's still only a fraction of the total privately held businesses out there. As such, my hat is off to all of those that made the recent Inc. 5000 list. [Blatantly immodest note: My first startup, Pyramid Digital Solutions, made the Inc. 500 list for 3 consecutive years back in the day, one of the few entrepreneurial accomplishments of which I am proud].
Inc. conducted a survey of the Inc. 5000 (2,710 responded) and published some interesting results.
Here are some of the highlights:
1. 88% of the respondents in 2006 said they are now millionaires (compared to 52% in 2003). 17% have a net worth exceeding $10 million.
2. 97% are planning on growing their business by hiring staff in the next 12 months.
3. 82% are self-financed (and only 4% received help from the SBA or government funds)
4. 7% plan on taking their company public in the future
5. 47% plan to start another company in the future. [Note: Shows that serial entrepreneurship as a pathology continues to grow]
6. 92% make over a $100k in 2006 (vs. only 59% in 2003)
7. 95% offer health insurance to their employees.
The full document can be found here: Inc. 5000 CEO Survey