Alabama companies earned national recognition in TIME’s first ranking of America’s best privately owned businesses, with several based in the Birmingham area.
EBSCO Industries Ranks No. 3 Nationwide
Birmingham-based EBSCO Industries earned the highest position among Alabama companies. It ranked No. 3 on TIME’s 2026 list of America’s Best Private Companies.
TIME partnered with Statista to create the inaugural ranking. The list recognizes 500 privately owned companies across the country.
The analysis considered factors such as employee satisfaction and each company’s overall social impact. The rankings were released in July 2026.
EBSCO’s history in Birmingham stretches back decades. Founder Elton B. Stephens Sr. started the company after building a career selling magazine subscriptions. Over time, the business expanded into a diverse group of privately owned companies.
Birmingham Companies Lead Alabama’s Showing
Eight Birmingham-headquartered companies appeared on TIME’s list. That includes EBSCO Industries and seven other businesses from the Birmingham metro.
The Birmingham Business Alliance highlighted the recognition as a sign of the region’s strong business community. The organization also pointed to the companies’ national and global reach.
American Family Care ranked No. 40 nationally. Books-A-Million followed at No. 84, while Upstream Rehabilitation came in at No. 113.
Brasfield & Gorrie ranked No. 135. Jack’s Family Restaurants placed No. 201. Cook’s Pest Control came in at No. 261.
Other Alabama Companies Make the Top 500
Several other Alabama businesses also earned spots on the national list. Peco Foods ranked No. 467, followed by ALFA at No. 477.
Altec placed No. 480, while American Cast Iron and Pipe ranked No. 491. Together, these companies helped give Alabama a strong presence in TIME’s inaugural ranking.
The recognition highlights the range of privately owned businesses operating across Alabama. It also puts Birmingham’s growing business community in the national spotlight.
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