San Francisco Companies Growing at the Speed of Light
Business is always changing, and the number of new companies on the Fortune 5000 list is evidence of this. Some of the top-performing companies in the country are located right in San Francisco and the Bay Area, spreading over a broad variety of industries. Here are the top 4 fastest-growing businesses in San Francisco, as well as lessons other businesses can learn from them.
AdRoll
No. 7 on the list as a whole, and first in San Francisco, is AdRoll, a software service that targets advertisers around the world. Its software aims to make advertising easy, with simple techniques that work for businesses both small and global. The company has shown growth from eight employees to 40 in the last three years, and profit growth of $111,000 in 2008 to $12.4 million posted in 2011. That kind of growth only happens when a company gets the formula just right.
There is still a market for marketing, but without the latest tools and technology, a company of any size will fall short. Take a lesson from the top ad company in the country—embrace the digital age. Otherwise, you won’t reach the masses.
Adap.tv
Further proof that technology is the only way to stay on top, Adap.tv comes in second on the list for San Francisco and 32nd in the country. This company also falls under marketing and advertising, but it’s the way their employees go about it that makes them different. With plans to make your TV and video marketing more effective, Adap.tv helps develop campaigns and analyze the results so businesses know they’re getting their money’s worth. The company has added 37 employees in the last three years for a total of 85 on the roster. The revenue is also impressive, growing from $559,813 in 2008 to $33.4 million in 2011.
We can learn from Adap.tv that television marketing isn’t dead. We just need the latest technology to ensure our advertising dollars are hitting the right mark. With a willingness to adapt to new methods, we can also succeed.
Credit Karma
Keeping up with credit scores is more important than ever, especially since this information is often required for both job and loan applications. Credit Karma, the third fastest-growing company in the Bay Area and the 40th in the country, makes it possible for consumers to access the necessary information so they can take greater control of their finances. The company has grown from six employees to 27 in the last three years, and the revenues posted are stellar. In 2008, the company made $106,751. In 2011, it made $5.7 million.
By giving the consumer the power, Credit Karma teaches us the buyer is the one paying the bills. We can try to control the information our customers access all we want, but the easier we make life—and buying—for them, the more likely they’ll be to use our services.
Stella & Dot
This jewelry retailer has a business model to covet. By giving its stylists commission for sales, Stella & Dot encourages more and more employees to join the company. Having more employees means more revenue, and that’s why the company has grown from 20 employees to125 in three years, and posted revenue of $4 million in 2008 and $175.3 million in 2011. These numbers put Stella & Dot firmly at No. 4 in San Francisco and No. 57 in the country.
With the ability to shake things up and try new sales models, other sales companies might experience similar success. Where this company really shines is by putting the power in the employees’ hands. Stylists can earn hefty commissions, which make them more likely to step out and sell.
It’s not easy to keep up with trendsetters, but we can all learn from them. Thinking outside the box is what really propels a company to greatness. Instead of thinking in the now, think ahead. Perhaps your company could join these top San Francisco businesses in the future.
Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net/jscreationzs
