How do I submit an Inc. 5000 Application?

• Confirm that your company meets the Inc. 5000 2022 eligibility requirements.
• Apply early in order to be eligible for the early application benefits and to ensure that you make all editorial and publication deadlines.
• If you do not have a final figure for your 2021 revenue when you apply, you may enter an estimate and provide us with a more precise figure when you submit your verification materials. 

We ask that the revenue figures in the verification documents be precise down to the dollar, or rounded to the nearest thousand dollars at most. Since the ranking of our list is determined by the two-year revenue growth rate, this level of accuracy is very important.

Please be precise down to the dollar, or rounded to the nearest thousand at the greatest
(For examples, $1,234,000).

Step 2. Revenue Verification: Once your company's 2021 revenue figure is final, submit revenue verification materials to confirm your 2018 and 2021 revenue figures. 

• Submitting your revenue verification early will ensure accurate coverage in Inc.com or Inc. magazine. If you need an extension, please send an email to [e-mail] .
• After you submit verification to support your revenue numbers, you may not withdraw from consideration for the 2022 Inc. 5000.
• If you are concerned that your final 2021 revenue figures will not be available in time, please email us at [e-mail].

*Please note, if you do not complete STEP 2, you're application will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified. *

For Step 2. Revenue Verification, you can choose one of the following options as a form of Revenue Verification:

• Digital Signature Verification

• PDF Document Verification Form

• Redacted Tax Returns for 2018 and 2021

  • Line 1C of Form 1120/1065 or Part 1, Line 3 of a Schedule C

• Audited Financial Statements

  • Must include accounting opinion letter, and income statement from financial statements that have been audited, reviewed or compiled by an independent accounting firm.

Digital Signature Verification 

Revenue verification will be requested in the format of a digital signature from your CEO and a co-signer with one of the following certifications: Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Management Accountant, IRS Certified Enrolled Agent, or Attorney.

Please be legible with your signature and DO NOT make a line or dot – Signatures that are not legible will be required to resign the verification.

 

Here's an example of what is and isn't acceptable:

PDF Document Verification Form 

This form is similar to the digital signature verification but in a PDF format. Please complete this form with your CEO and CO-Signer signatures. Once again, the co-signer MUST have one of the following certifications: Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Management Accountant, IRS Certified Enrolled Agent, or Attorney.

While completing this step, please be sure to have the following:

• • The company name is listed on the form.
  • That both signatures are legible.
  • To submit the accurate revenue numbers (we cannot accept figures that are too rounded - they must be rounded to the nearest thousand, Ex: $1,124,000)
  • That both the CEO and Co-Signer signatures are on the document that the Co-Signer Credentials are marked.

Here is an example of what is and isn't acceptable:

Redacted Tax Returns for 2018 and 2021

Submitting your company Redacted Tax Returns is a perfect way to verify your companies revenue.

If you are submitting Redacted Tax Returns, please sure be the documents contain: 

• • The first two pages of the return. Feel free to redact any figure below line 1C of Form 1120/1065 or Part 1, Line 3 of a Schedule C.
  • Do not redact the company address.
  • Remember in order to be eligible for the Inc 5000, you must have a revenue of at
    least $100,000 for 2018 and $2,000,000 for 2021. We cannot accept revenues that are below the minimum for either 2018 or 2021.

Here are some examples of what we can and cannot accept:

 

Audited Financial Statements