Click here to download a PDF of the Customer Survey Process and Questions.
Why is there a required survey?
Businesses need businesses to succeed. Inc.’s Power Partner Awards provide recognition opportunities for B2B providers using a proprietary methodology comprising journalistic research and the use of public and private data sources. One such source is the customer reference survey. Inc. will score all survey results and combine them with our own research to produce a list of hundreds of winners.
Who should take the survey?
We want to hear from at least three (3) and no more than ten (10) customers who have used your products or services over the past year and who can share their experiences partnering with you. We’ll ask them four very simple questions.
Who distributes the survey?
Inc. will send the survey via email to the requested customers. The email will come from powerpartners@inc.com, and the subject line will read "Response needed: Company Name has listed you as a reference for Inc. Business Media."
When will the survey be distributed?
References will receive a link to the survey via email as soon as the application is submitted and payment received.
Is there a fee to take the survey?
No, there is no additional fee to complete the survey questions.
What are the survey questions?
1. How likely is it that you would recommend [company] to a friend or colleague? Please select from 1 to 10 with 1 being the least likely to recommend and 10 being the most likely
2. How would you rate the value of the products or services [company] provides? Please select from 1 to 10 with 1 indicating the least value and 10 indicating the most value.
3. In terms of quality, how much better is [company] than its competitors? Please select from 1 to 10 with 1 being no better and 10 being exponentially better
4. What is it about [company]’s products or services that makes you choose it over its competitors?
Do I have to complete a new survey for each category I apply to?
No, we require responses from at least three (3) and no more than ten (10) customers regardless of how many categories you apply for.
How will Inc. use my survey responses?
We launched Inc. Power Partners in 2022 to bring recognition and opportunity to the partners that power businesses to reach new heights. Inc. Business Media reserves the right to make public anything you submit, including quotes from the survey responses. Our editorial team will not review applications until after the application deadline. That being said, anything you input as part of your application may be made public at the discretion of our editorial team. There’s no guarantee as to what will or won’t be posted, whether or not you are a winner.
When is the deadline to complete the survey?
The deadline for references to complete the surveys is August 14, 2026.
What are the requirements to complete the survey? We require three (3) to ten (10) references from companies that have used your products or services over the past year.
How many times will Inc. contact my references? Inc. Will contact your references once by email upon the completion of your application. To request additional contacts, please reach out to powerpartners@inc.com. We recommend reaching out to your customer references directly to let them know that we've contacted them.
Ready to apply? Click here today!
Browse the list of our most recent Power Partner Honorees here.
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Have any questions or concerns? Email us at powerpartners@inc.com