2025 Application Coming Soon!

The Best and Brightest Small Businesses in America

Coming Soon: The 2025 Application

The CO—100 is an exclusive list of America’s top 100 small businesses, celebrated for their remarkable contributions in driving innovation, growth, and ingenuity both locally and globally. Businesses that make the list share inspiring ideas, ingenious solutions to challenges, enriching stories of community impact and proven strategies for fostering vibrant company cultures and customer dynamics.

Think your business should be on the list? Check back for more information about the 2025 CO—100 program.

Why Enter?

  • Brand Exposure

    Your business could be featured across hundreds of print, radio, and broadcast news outlets. Plus, every CO—100 honoree receives a dedicated business profile on CO—.

  • Exclusive Access

    Gain access to top experts and thought leaders with valuable tips to help you grow your business. You’ll also meet and learn from the most successful small business owners in the nation.

  • VIP Perks

    Get invited to one-of-a-kind VIP experiences in the nation’s capital, and tap into opportunities for speaking engagements at our virtual and in-person events.

10 Categories Honoring the Best Small Businesses in America

Each applicant will have the opportunity to opt into up to five categories.

  • Growth Accelerators

    Awarded to the business that demonstrates the most creative and effective strategy for growth. This could involve unique marketing tactics, product innovation, or exceptional customer service strategies.

  • Community Champions

    This category honors businesses that have not only grown but have also positively impacted their local community. This could be through job creation, community service projects, or by fostering a strong community around their business.

  • Micro-Business Leaders

    This award recognizes small businesses with 1-5 employees that have built a profitable and thriving business while remaining small and nimble.

  • Champions of Adaptability

    Honoring businesses that have overcome significant challenges or adversity in the past. This category celebrates grit and determination.

  • Customer Champions

    This category focuses on businesses that have shown exceptional customer service or have significantly increased their customer base through unique engagement strategies.

  • Global Stars

    Awarded to a business that has successfully entered new international markets or significantly increased its global footprint over the past year.

  • Tech Innovators

    Recognizes businesses that have effectively incorporated new technologies or automated solutions to scale their operations, improve the customer experience, or innovate their product/service offerings.

  • Enduring Businesses

    For businesses that have shown long-term growth and sustainability over many years. Should be for companies in business for more than 10 years.

  • The Disruptors

    For businesses that have introduced or created a brand-new product or service or have built a company that innovates beyond traditional business structure or typical ways of doing business. The business itself or how the business is structured should be ground-breaking, new, or creative in nature.

  • Culture Champions

    For businesses that have built a vibrant and rewarding company culture and leveraged it to attract and retain employees who have together built a profitable and successful company through hard work, dedication, and commitment to the business’s goals and growth.

  • The annual list of CO—100 includes thriving, successful companies that are committed to growing the American economy and supporting their local communities.

    The CO—100 By the Numbers

    • Revenue

      The 2024 CO— 100 generates more than $400M in annual revenue, with 95% anticipating additional growth this year.

    • Job Creation

      The 2024 CO—100 employs 5,000+ people, with 92% planning to hire more this calendar year.

    • Reach

      The 2024 CO—100 comprises businesses from 32 states across 16 industries and represents 50+ local area chambers of commerce.

    Meet Confero, Inc.: CO—100 Top Business 2024

    Confero, Inc. achieved recognition as the Top Honoree in the Enduring Businesses category in the 2024 CO—100, and also earned the title of the CO—100 Top Business 2024. Here’s how they’ve kept their customer service research and mystery shopping business going since 1986.

    2024 Gala - Night of 100 Stars