Southwest Missouri firms make Inc. 5,000

The magazine annually ranks private U.S. companies based on percentage revenue growth during a three-year period – in this year’s case, from 2004 to 2007. The list began as the Inc. 500 but last year expanded to the Inc. 5,000.

Springfield-based Incredible Pizza Co. was southwest Missouri’s highest-ranked company at No. 456. The food-and-games chain with 14 locations reported 693 percent growth during the three-year period and 2007 revenue of $64.1 million.

Also among the Inc. 500 was Osage Beach company Stokes Dock, at No. 474. The dock builder had 664 percent growth and $3.1 million in 2007 revenue.

“The Inc. 5,000 is a list of the fastest growing privately held companies in America,” wrote Jim Melloan, project manager of the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5,000, on Inc.com. “These companies are the elite – a mere sliver of the seven million or so companies in the U.S.”

Three other locally based companies made appearances on the Inc. 5,000: Springfield’s Jack Ball and Associates, at No. 1,077 with 349 percent growth and $2.6 million in 2007 revenue; Ozark’s Healthcarefirst, at No. 2,359 with 156 percent growth and $4.7 million in 2007 revenue; and Neosho’s Branco Enterprises, at No. 2,843 with 126 percent growth and $66.7 million in 2007 revenue.

Both Incredible Pizza Co. and Healthcarefirst were 2008 honorees for Springfield Business Journal’s Dynamic Dozen, a ranking of the 12 fastest-growing companies in the area.

Along with adding the Inc. 5,000, the magazine is launching in September IncBizNet, a social network for private companies. Each Inc. 5,000 company will become charter members of the online network, and any U.S.-based private company can join, Inc. officials said.

Members can connect with other entrepreneurs in like industries or regions and share company backgrounds, business philosophies and trusted vendors.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s Aug. 25 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.