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The Private 500 represent 44 states. Geographically, the West wins again on the strength of California's 84 companies -- more than twice as many as any other state.

More than two-thirds of the 500 companies were founded in the last decade. Four out of 5 have grown internally -- and all but 13 companies are operating in the black.

Bolstered by a strong contingent of wholesalers, service companies outpace manufacturers almost three to one. About one in four companies are tagged 'high tech.'

Most of the 500 companies will keep growing in the year ahead, but you can also bet that several will go public, a couple will sell out, and at least one will end up bankrupt.

Led by a Seattle furniture wholesaler, 65 of last year's Private 100 companies remain on this year's roster of 500. Only 25 of them, however, are still among the top 100.

Percent '81 Sales

Company (by rank) Increase ($ 000) Business description

101. KMW Systems 1,119% $2,043 Mfr. computer data

(Austin, TX) commun. equip.

102. Systems Strategies 1,118 2,436 Software consult. to banks,

(New York) brokerages

103. Golden Corral<1> 1,117 107,969 Family steakhouses

(Raleigh, NC)

104. Brady Marketing 1,100 6,000 Whlsler, marketing gourmet

(Concord, CA) cookware

105. Metro Info. Services 1,100 1,200 Computer software

(Virginia Beach, VA)

106. Thermal Engineering 1,087 1,768 Waste water, heatrecovery,

(Tucson) pumping systems

107. David Boland 1,080 3,712 General contractor

(Titusville, FL)

108. Beacon Commmunications 1,077 16,869 Communications services

(Acton, MA)

109. Commercial Prpty. Serv. 1,077 13,423 Building-maintenance,

(Cleveland) security

110. Los Alamos Technical<1> 1,070 5,850 Consulting engineers,

(Los Alamos, NM) energy/environ.

111. LaMarca Group 1,063 15,681 Advertising media/marketing

(New York) services

112. Private Ledger Financial 1,058 22,000 Securities brokerage

Serv. (San Diego)

113. Selective Personnel<1> 1,050 2,876 Personnel agency

(East Brunswick, NJ)

114. Sunmaster 1,040 2,850 Mfr. solar heating/cooling

(Corning, NY) systems

115. Amperif 1,005 10,500 Mfr. memory systems

(Chatsworth, CA)

116. Satter Cos. 991 26,065 Real estate development

(West Palm Beach, FL)

117. Tarrant Servie Agency 980 2,182 Air conditioning/heating

(Louisville) equip. distrib.

118. Cook Machine 974 5,682 Mfr. oil-field equip.

(Duncan, OK)

119. Medata 961 4,504 Medical billing review

(Santa Ana, CA) service

120. Advanced Mfg. & Devel. 960 1,598 Precision sheet metal,

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