Asheville Hosts Six of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies

Entrepreneurial spirit in Asheville

Asheville Hosts Six of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies

A vibrant city nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville continues to make strides in its growth as not just a cultural hub, but a home for flourishing entrepreneurial businesses. The recent release of the annual Inc. 5000 list illuminates this fact further, naming six Asheville-based businesses among the fastest-growing private companies in the US.

Revenue and Job Growth Galore

Calculated based on percentage revenue growth from 2020 to 2023, these six firms collectively witnessed a median growth of 540%, while also creating 198 new job opportunities. Notably, four out of the six are repeat awardees, testament to their consistent performance and staying power in their respective markets.

Meet the Asheville Six

Among the honorees are businesses spanning a wide range of industries, from logistics and transportation to digital marketing and wellness.

1. Empire National

Ranking in at No. 327, this Fletcher-based company targets the logistics and transportation industry. Featuring an impressive growth rate of 1,316%, Empire National primarily offers services in air, ocean, and ground freight shipping across the lower 48 states, along with inventory management and distribution solutions.

2. Sauna House

With an admirable growth rate of 592%, leading it to rank No. 838, Sauna House falls under the canopy of consumer services. Renowned as a local favorite, this sustainably minded bathhouse is expanding beyond Asheville, ready to take its sauna and cold plunge sessions to Durham, Charlotte, Greenville, Denver, Bonita Springs, and Charleston.

3. Honest Digital

Occupying No. 878 on the illustrious list, Honest Digital takes the lead in the advertising and marketing industry with a growth rate of 571%. This Asheville-based agency specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and paid advertising for automotive companies.

4. Point Global Logistics

At No. 1,004, Point Global Logistics breaks into the listing with a 509% growth rate. Streamlining transportation services and supply chain management for its global clientele, this expert freight forwarder belongs to the logistics and transportation domain.

5. Artisan Studios

Taking No. 1,107, Artisan Studios characterizes the IT services field with a significant 462% growth. The company’s services extend to web, mobile, and standalone kiosk design and development, tech service management, as well as tech strategy across varying industries.

6. Riverbend Malt House

Marking its third consecutive year on the list as No. 3,551, Riverbend Malt House caters to the food and beverage industry alongside a respectable growth rate of 135%. As the first and largest craft maltster in the Southeast, it supplies breweries and distilleries throughout the region with custom, locally sourced malts.

Asheville’s Thriving Business Landscape

The inclusion of Asheville’s businesses on this estimable list underscores the city’s robust and thriving business landscape. An amalgamation of innovative thinking, strategic execution, and commitment to excellence, this achievement offers a bright outlook for the future economic growth of Asheville and the prosperity of its citizens.