Company Recognized for 174% Three-Year Revenue Growth, Earning a Place Among the Nation's Most Successful Independent Businesses
BOERNE, Texas, Aug. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Hero Marketing Agency today announced it has been ranked No. 2,085 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, the annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation's most successful independent and entrepreneurial businesses, recognizing companies that have achieved remarkable growth while driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the economy. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Oracle, and Patagonia.
"We didn't build Hero to make the Inc. 5000—we built it to become the agency we wished existed when we were running service businesses ourselves," said Josh Cates, Founder & CEO of Hero Marketing Agency. "Our growth is the result of helping ambitious home service owners stop guessing and start making smarter decisions with their marketing dollars. We understand what it means to make payroll, keep trucks running, protect margins and turn marketing investment into real revenue. Being named one of America's fastest-growing private companies is an incredible honor, but what I'm most proud of is that our growth has come from helping our clients grow. That's the scoreboard that matters to us."
This year's Inc. 5000 recognizes a new class of companies redefining what growth looks like. From AI and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, consumer products, and professional services, these businesses are expanding their impact, creating jobs and proving that entrepreneurial ambition continues to fuel the U.S. economy. Among the 5,000 companies on the list, the median three-year revenue growth rate was 130%, and those companies have collectively added more than 627,208 jobs to the U.S. economy over the past three years.
For the full Inc. 5000 list, honoree company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, please visit: www.inc.com/inc5000.
"Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision making, and a refusal to sit still," says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Their growth reflects more than strong financial performance–it reflects creativity, resilience, and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact. We congratulate all honorees on this significant achievement."
Inc. will celebrate the honorees at the 2026 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, taking place October 14–16 in Dallas, Texas and the top 500 will be listed in the Fall issue of Inc. Magazine. Tickets are on sale now.
Inc. 5000 List Methodology
Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2025. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2022 is $100,000; the minimum for 2025 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.
About Hero Marketing Agency
Hero Marketing Agency (HMA) is a Texas-based digital marketing agency dedicated exclusively to home service businesses, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing companies generating $4M to $20M+ in annual revenue. Founded and led by father-son duo Bob and Josh Cates, HMA helps home service operators scale toward eight-figure growth through its proprietary Hero Growth Blueprint and Ownership Perspective Marketing methodology. For more information, visit MarketLikeAHero.com.
About Inc.
Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
Media Contact
Josh Cates, Hero Marketing Agency, 1 8303888110, [email protected], www.marketlikeahero.com
SOURCE Hero Marketing Agency
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