There are millions of small businesses in the United States. Yet only a small percentage of these companies have earned a spot on the Inc. 5000, an annual listing of the fastest-growing private companies in America. A fraction of these firms are led by women.

The annual list is compiled by looking at companies’ annual revenue, and three-year sales growth rate. Companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2010. And the minimum required 2010 revenue is $100,000. The minimum figure for 2013 is $2 million. 

Despite accounting for less than 10 percent of companies on the list, women-owned businesses of the Inc. 500 are a diverse group--from children’s apparel and jewelry designers to specialty snack makers and IT services providers. 

Here are the top 50 women-led companies in America:

CEO: Vicki Vasquez

Inc. 5000 Rank: 508

2013 Revenue: $3.1 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 931 percent

Provides technical assistance and consulting services to federal, state, tribal, and corporate clients.

CEO: Rebecca Apfelstadt

Inc. 5000 Rank: 506

2013 Revenue: $2.4 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 934 percent

Offers supplement support on urgent special projects for large marketing departments.

CEO: Nancy Gorski

Inc. 5000 Rank: 496

2013 Revenue: $16.3 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 964 percent

Advises companies on strategies that will optimize their wireless networks and provides mobile hardware, software and professional services. 

CEO: Catherine Downey

Inc. 5000 Rank: 489

2013 Revenue: $4.6 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 970 percent

A media production firm that helps federal agencies communicate effectively both internally and with the American public through strategic communications, multimedia production, training, and media staffing and management. 

CEO: Jessica Vann

Inc. 5000 Rank: 487

2013 Revenue: $2.1 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 978 percent

Offers boutique recruiting, temp, and direct-hire services to clients in all industries, from executive assistants and office managers, to human resource professionals.

44. SeaSnax

CEO: Jin Jun

Inc. 5000 Rank: 479

2013 Revenue: $3.5 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1052 percent

Makes a variety of seaweed-based snacks. 

CEO: Marie Forleo

Inc. 5000 Rank: 472

2013 Revenue: $11.9 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 998 percent

An education company featuring an online business school for modern entrepreneurs that teaches students to embrace their higher purpose in order to increase profits. 

42. Halvik

CEO: Madhavi Jinka

Inc. 5000 Rank: 470

2013 Revenue: $7.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1000 percent

Offers enterprise architecture, business information, cloud, mobile, application delivery management, and infrastructure and security services. 

CEO: Jennifer Guthrie

Inc. 5000 Rank: 450

2013 Revenue: $9.7 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1065 percent

A staffing firm that provides a niche aviation personnel staffing service to wealth corporations and individuals operating business class jets. 

CEO: Julie Chambers

Inc. 5000 Rank: 437

2013 Revenue: $2.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1085 percent

A commercial and industrial painting company serving general contractors, major corporations, and private building owners. 

CEO: Gia Manley

Inc. 5000 Rank: 409

2013 Revenue: $7.6 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1153 percent

A staffing firm that provides temporary, contract, and direct hire placement of workers in technical, IT, administrative, operations, biotech, and industrial positions nationwide. 

CEO: Ruby Polanco

Inc. 5000 Rank: 403

2013 Revenue: $2.1 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1174 percent

Teaches makeup artistry, character and special effects makeup, hair design, and air brushing at three campuses in the Los Angeles area. 

CEO: Natalia Castillo

Inc. 5000 Rank: 387

2013 Revenue: $4.6 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1211 percent

Designs beach and resort wear sold in 2,000 boutiques and resorts around the world, including the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton. 

CEO: Annette Smith

Inc. 5000 Rank: 375

2013 Revenue: $3.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1269 percent

Develops, sells, installs, and monitors customized electronic security systems for businesses and homeowners.

CEO: Cate Dyer

Inc. 5000 Rank: 363

2013 Revenue: $2.2 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1316 percent

Supplies biomedical researchers with human blood, tissue products, bone marrow, primary cells, and the clinical specimens they need to perform their research. 

CEO: Anna Bond

Inc. 5000 Rank: 353

2013 Revenue: $8.3 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1333 percent

A stationery and gift brand that was started by a husband and wife out of their apartment and is now carried in more than 4,000 stores around the world including Barnes & Noble and Anthropologie. 

CEO: Ruthie Schulder

Inc. 5000 Rank: 348

2013 Revenue: $2.2 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1352 percent

Conceptualizes and executes experiential campaigns that combine experience, influencer, and digital strategy to achieve impact. 

CEO: Donna Milavetz

Inc. 5000 Rank: 339

2013 Revenue: $2.5 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1374 percent

Provides affordable primary health care on site at workplaces. 

CEO: Bernadette Coleman

Inc. 5000 Rank: 328

2013 Revenue: $5.9 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1421 percent

A digital marketing agency that provides services including Internet marketing strategy, IT project management & integration and website design & development. 

CEO: Brandi Temple

Inc. 5000 Rank: 318

2013 Revenue: $11.6 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1452 percent

A children's and women's apparel designer, manufacturer, and retailer that the founder started out of her garage. 

29. Softhq

CEO: Sindhura Thummalasetty

Inc. 5000 Rank: 308

2013 Revenue: $16.1 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1497 percent

Offers technology staffing and consulting in the areas of supply chain services, mobility, enterprise IT, system on a chip (SoC) design, business intelligence, infrastructure, and application development. 

CEO: Saima Chowdhury

Inc. 5000 Rank: 300

2013 Revenue: $22.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1519 percent

Provides customized apparel product sourcing, from design to delivery, for brands and retailers. 

CEO: Monica Enand

Inc. 5000 Rank: 289

2013 Revenue: $2.4 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1567 percent

Develops compliance software for businesses facing increasing rules and regulations that helps them efficiently manage their obligations. 

CEO: Deyona Hays

Inc. 5000 Rank: 285

2013 Revenue: $5.2 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1604 percent

Provides engineering, design, and procurement services for a multitude of projects including processing, truck and rail bulk loading and offloading, bulk handling and storage, process and electrical engineering studies, and chemical plant upgrades. 

CEO: Arria Hines

Inc. 5000 Rank: 268

2013 Revenue: $7.0 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1723 percent

Provides program management, financial analysis, software and systems engineering, knowledge management, and specialized scientific, engineering, and technical support to federal government agencies. 

CEO: Cindy Reuter

Inc. 5000 Rank: 250

2013 Revenue: $13.7 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1832 percent

Offers engineering (gas pipeline safety), business operations consulting, and IT services. 

CEO: Iana Ahmed

Inc. 5000 Rank: 232

2013 Revenue: $42.6 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1958 percent

Provides carrier-agnostic contract and prepaid wireless plans and devices to consumers, businesses, and government agencies. It also provides smartphone repair, programming, and unlocking services. 

CEO: Marcy Eisenberg

Inc. 5000 Rank: 231

2013 Revenue: $9.3 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1960 percent

Specializes in IT, analysis, linguistics, and customized services for clients in national security. 

CEO: Amy Tong

Inc. 5000 Rank: 228

2013 Revenue: $3.5 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 1994 percent

A boutique management and technology consulting firm that provides IT strategy, enterprise architecture, and data analytics services to public and private sector clients. 

CEO: Joaneane Smith

Inc. 5000 Rank: 219

2013 Revenue: $3.5 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2041 percent

Offers systems and software engineering, information assurance, cyber security, and program and project management to military and government clients. 

19. Wren

CEO: Melissa Coker

Inc. 5000 Rank: 215

2013 Revenue: $5.2 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2093 percent

Produces a women's clothing line sold online and through retailers worldwide. 

CEO: Katy Leak

Inc. 5000 Rank: 204

2013 Revenue: $9.6 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2153 percent

Operates an ad sales network that responds to intent gleaned from individual social media posts on services like Twitter, Foursquare, and Instagram, to create contextual advertising targeting to its audience. 

CEO: Mary Beth Long

Inc. 5000 Rank: 201

2013 Revenue: $8.7 percent

3-Year Growth Rate: 2170 percent

Provides strategy and policy support, intelligence and operations support, program management, and international business development services to U.S. government and commercial clients around the globe. 

CEO: Maricarmen Acuna

Inc. 5000 Rank: 196

2013 Revenue: $2.9 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2208 percent

Offers program management, technical, and administrative support to government customers in the areas of accounting, business administration, computer science, contract management, criminal justice, economics, political science, and public administration. 

CEO: Kandy Johannsen

Inc. 5000 Rank: 195

2013 Revenue: $2.5 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2216 percent

A general contractor that specializes in building stores for retailers. 

CEO: Victoria Lynden

Inc. 5000 Rank: 187

2013 Revenue: $2.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2291 percent

Through its proprietary Web-based reporting platform, builds analytical, predictive reporting tools that help clients make faster, better decisions. 

CEO: Victoria Lynden

Inc. 5000 Rank: 171

2013 Revenue: $2.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2417 percent

Produces liquid coffee concentrate and roasted coffee in a variety of flavors, and is planning to offer a ready-to-drink coffee beverage soon. 

CEO: Melissa Chang

Inc. 5000 Rank: 170

2013 Revenue: $4.7 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2428 percent

Provides lead generation and database services to accelerate the sales process for IT and medical device marketers. 

CEO: Melinda Dicharry

Inc. 5000 Rank: 168

2013 Revenue: $5.3 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2440 percent

Specializes in the design-build of mechanical systems for medical, commercial, laboratory, high tech industrial, and government facilities. 

CEO: Pamela Siek

Inc. 5000 Rank: 163

2013 Revenue: $6.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2508 percent

Provides IT, training, strategy, operations, transformation, and mission support services to commercial and government clients. 

CEO: Rita Gurevich

Inc. 5000 Rank: 159

2013 Revenue: $3.6 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2524 percent

An IT provider that specializes in data governance, security, and compliance for financial, pharmaceutical, transportation, and manufacturing companies. 

CEO: Christine Lin      

Inc. 5000 Rank: 142

2013 Revenue: $9.8 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2683 percent

An educational consulting firm that helps American high schools and colleges enhance their profiles and broaden their diversity by increasing their enrollment of international students. 

CEO: Monica Smith

Inc. 5000 Rank: 135

2013 Revenue: $72.9 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2753 percent

Creates and manages direct response television advertising campaigns, events and expos for its customers.

CEO: Neha Gajwani

Inc. 5000 Rank: 125

2013 Revenue: $3.1 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 2964 percent

An online retailer of accessories for computers, gaming devices, smartphones, and tablets. 

CEO: Vani Gangavarapu

Inc. 5000 Rank: 91

2013 Revenue: $6.5 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 3870 percent

Provides a complete package of services for full-cycle SAP implementation projects. 

CEO: Susan Meitner

Inc. 5000 Rank: 64

2013 Revenue: $166.9 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 4845 percent

Processes, underwrites, and funds mortgages for home buying and refinancing. 

CEO: Carolyn Rafaelian

Inc. 5000 Rank: 53

2013 Revenue: $230.1 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 5221 percent

Sells its own collections of bangles, necklaces and other jewelry, as well as licensed products with major league sports team logos, made from recycled materials and using local manufacturers.

CEO: Sheila Thompson

Inc. 5000 Rank: 43

2013 Revenue: $14.1 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 5753 percent                    

Provides programmatic, financial, and IT support to department of defense clients, with particular expertise in GFEBS (general fund enterprise business system) implementation and training. 

1. PackIt

CEO: Melissa Kieling

Inc. 5000 Rank: 28

2013 Revenue: $11.9 million

3-Year Growth Rate: 7878 percent

Manufactures bags with freezable gel in the linings that keep food and drinks cold for up to 10 hours. 

Published on: Oct 21, 2014