Inc. is excited to introduce the inaugural Inc. Best in Business Awards that will recognize the businesses that, in this past tumultuous year, have made the greatest impact in their fields and in our society—companies that have truly made a positive difference for the world. Inc. will recognize winners across 38 categories and every company that enters will automatically be considered to be named as Inc.’s prestigious Company of The Year!

 

How It Works

You will be asked to enter a few details about your company and answer four questions regarding the impact your company has achieved over the past year. Inc.’s editors will review every application and select multiple winners in each category. You can download a sample of the application questions here.

Only privately-held, U.S based, independent (non-subsidiary) companies are eligible to apply.
 

Categories

Industry Categories 

Advertising and Marketing

Public relations firms, marketing companies, ad agencies, and companies that are involved with web-based promotions, inducing people to click on ads, and keeping track of those who do.

Business Products

Public relations firms, marketing companies, ad agencies, and companies that are involved with web-based promotions, inducing people to click on ads, and keeping track of those who do.

Business Services

Companies that sell services primarily to other businesses.

Consumer Products

Companies that primarily make, distribute, or sell products to consumers.

Construction

Companies that put up buildings, normally as contractors, as well as companies that sell or install elements such as windows, doors, and flooring, and infrastructure such as plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Consumer Services

Companies that primarily make, distribute, or sell consumer services.

Education 

Companies that provide instruction or coaching, or sell educational materials, or whose primary market is schools or universities.

Energy

Companies that source or provide power for business and residential customers, as well as companies that provide specialized services to energy firms. This category also includes consultancies that help clients reduce their energy consumption.

Engineering 

Companies that provide engineering and related services, including construction or architectural work, and that manage engineering projects for clients.

Environmental Services

Companies whose primary focus is on restoring or maintaining clean and safe environments.

Financial Services

Companies that provide financing or whose products and services facilitate financial transactions. Includes lenders, mortgage brokers, and financial advisers.

General Excellence

Open to all companies effecting extraordinary change, often across multiple sectors

Food and Beverage

Companies that manufacture, sell, or distribute food or beverages or offer related services. Includes meal-delivery services.

Government Services 

Companies that provide consulting services—especially IT, health care, and procurement—used primarily by government entities.

Healthcare Products

Companies that provide products strictly to the health care market, such as makers or distributors of nutritional supplements and makers or distributors of medical devices. 

Healthcare Services

Companies that provide services strictly to the health care market, such as operators of medical facilities, including nursing homes. 

Human Resources

Staffing, payroll, executive-search, and outsourcing companies, as well as firms involved with employee or management training.

Insurance 

Companies that sell insurance products or help the insurance industry in different forms of risk mitigation.

IT Management 

Companies whose primary business is the outsourced management of software, servers, printers, security, etc.

IT System Development 

Companies that create processes that enable their clients’ information technology to perform to its capacity.

Logistics and Transportation 

Freight shipping, trucking, and other companies that move products and people, as well as brokers of those companies’ services and providers of services to the industry.

Manufacturing 

Companies that make both intermediate and finished goods for sale to businesses and consumers.

Media 

Companies whose primary business is creating or distributing content in any kind of communications medium.

Real Estate 

Includes real estate developers and brokers and those providing services to brokers, buyers, and sellers. Also includes real estate-related investment firms.

Retail 

Companies that sell products and services directly to consumers, either online or at brick-and-mortar stores. 

Security

Companies that provide physical security—guards, locks, heavy doors, barriers, surveillance systems, armored trucks. 

Software

Companies that create software for businesses or individuals. 

Telecommunications

Companies involved with transmitting voice, video, or data on a mass scale and companies that sell services primarily to telecom firms. 

Travel and Hospitality

Travel agencies, tour operators, and other companies that help facilitate travel, as well as hotel companies and leisure destinations such as amusement parks

Wellness Products

Companies that primarily make, distribute, or sell products that aim to increase quality of life.

Wellness Services

Companies that primarily make, distribute, or sell services that aim to increase quality of life. 

 

Company Stage Categories

Companies that have achieved incredible impact at different stages in their lifecycle

 

Company Revenue Categories

Companies that have achieved incredible impact at different stages of their revenue