1,000 small companies that got a lot bigger, a lot faster
Meet the small and mid-sized businesses — all under 200 people — that grew the most this year. This is what their growth actually looks like, explained simply.
Think of it like a class photo taken every year. Most classes look about the same size, year after year. But once in a while, a class doubles in size almost overnight.
The SMB 1000 is that second photo. It's a list of 1,000 small and mid-sized businesses — every one of them under 200 employees — that grew the fastest in 2026. Not the biggest companies. Not the oldest. The ones adding people, opening doors, and spending real money to grow, right now.
Here's what's driving that growth, and what it looks like when you break it down.
Where the growth is coming from
Five industries show up again and again on this year's list. Here's each one, in plain language.
Tech & AI tools
Software teams building the AI copilots, automation, and fintech apps that other businesses now run on day to day.
Health & wellness
Telehealth visits, mental health apps, and wearable-connected coaching — care that fits into a phone, not just a clinic.
E-commerce & DTC brands
Online-first brands shipping directly to customers, spending on personalization instead of a big retail footprint.
Green energy
Solar installers, EV-charging companies, and sustainable-materials makers riding a real shift in demand.
Education & e-learning
AI-assisted tutoring and upskilling platforms scaling to meet a workforce that keeps needing new skills.
Three ways you can measure "growing fast"
Every company on the SMB 1000 shows growth in three places: how many people they hire, how many places they operate, and how much they spend to get noticed.
What the data is actually good for
A list like this isn't just a trophy shelf. Behind the 1,000 names is a real, detailed dataset — headcount, locations, and ad spend for every company — and that's where the useful part starts.
As these companies keep expanding and innovating, they're doing more than growing their own headcount — they're creating jobs and setting the pace for what "fast-growing" looks like in 2026.
Want to see the full list in action?
Drop your email below and we'll set you up with a live demo — so you can explore the SMB 1000 data yourself, not just read about it.
No spam — just a quick, real look at the data.
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