A statistical look at this year's Inc. 500 companies and the CEOs that run them.
THE STATS
| Average five-year growth rate |
1,598% |
| Average 1996 sales |
$17.9 million |
| Median 1996 sales |
$9.1 million |
| Collective 1996 sales |
$9 billion |
| Average number of employees |
121 |
| Median number of employees |
64 |
| Collective number of jobs generated |
60,436 |
| Percentage of companies turning a profit |
85% |
| Number of companies that broke $100 million in sales |
9 |
| City with the most Inc. 500 companies |
New York (which has 12) |
| Fastest-growing industries |
Computers and business services*
*both up 6 points from last year |
| Percentage of companies that made the list last year |
30% |
| Number of companies older than 15 years |
27 |
| Oldest company |
C.D. Smith Drug Co. (#390, founded in 1886) |
| Most harmonious workplace |
Cecchetti Sebastiani Cellar (#252), with one employee until 1997 |
| Number of companies that at one time employed 50 or more in CEO's home |
4 |
| Percentage of CEOs who had a formal business plan |
47% |
| Number of companies started with $1,000 to $10,000 |
115 |
| Number of companies started with $100,000 or more |
95 |
| Fastest-growing company started with $3,000 or less |
Gearon & Co. (#23), which grew by 4,660% |
| Percentage of companies planning to go public within a year |
17% |
| Percentage of companies planning to go public within the next five years |
34% |
| Number of CEOs who worked at a "paying job" after founding their own company |
98 |
| Number of CEOs who admitted to going without a salary in 1992 |
23 |
| In 1996 |
0 |
| Number of CEOs whose 1996 salary totaled $1 million or more |
7 |
| Youngest president |
Lance Reid, 25, of InfiNet Systems (#409) |
| Number of CEOs born in India |
17 |
| Number of CEOs born in Brooklyn |
10 |
| Percentage of CEOs who psych themselves up by praying |
3% |
Number of CEOs whose favorite business thinker is--
| Jesus Christ |
1 |
| "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams |
2 |
| "Myself" |
3 | |
| Number of CEOs who plan to pass the company to the next generation |
12 |
THE CEOS
The Incredible Upbeatness of Being
There is probably no more optimistic group of executives on the planet than the CEOs of the Inc. 500.
And we have the numbers to prove it. Yes, we have statistical proof that Inc. 500 CEOs are one annnoyingly upbeat group of people.
When others saw their home garage half empty, these CEOs saw it full of employees; some even had a staff of 50 before they moved the company from their home. Where others saw nothing, they saw niches (two companies peddle personal cooling systems). Where others saw headaches, they spied opportunities (41% sell to the government). Despite having humble beginnings, these 462 men and 38 women foresaw fast growth. A sizable group had known from an early age that they wanted their own companies and couldn't wait to get started. The only questions were what and when. Never why.
Few did it for the money. Even today, Inc. 500 CEOs' salaries are comfortable but not excessive. (The midpoint is $150,000.) No, they started companies so they, and their families, would amount to something in their communities.
"We always said we didn't want to be a mom-and-pop shop," says Tony Cooper, the 32-year-old cofounder of $5-million Computer Free America (#240), in Springfield, Ohio. He and his partner, Jerry Geer, were best buddies in high school, and they started the company in their hometown. Says Cooper, "We want to be the largest employer in Clark County."
Oh, sure, Inc. 500 CEOs fret about cash flow, where the next sale will come from, and how to raise capital. But they worry more about how to find enough good people to meet their expansion plans. And how to keep things fun. The truth is, their biggest problem is what to do with all their success. It can be draining, you know.
