"The Analysis is a proactive yardstick to help measure your bottom line against other like-size companies in the industry," said senior director of member services Jodi Montgomery. "It provides information on what the most profitable companies are doing. In addition, the Analysis outlines the technologies, vertical markets and sales methods that contribute to their profitability."
Company sizes were split into five different ranges - beginning with companies who earned less than $1 million a year up to one in 10 reporting gross revenues of more than $20 million. Companies that took part in the research were measured against the "best of the best" - those with the highest gross profit and those who had the highest income before taxes. A top 10 category is also included.
To further detail ratios, the study examines a company's age, US region, primary sales methods, primary technological/systems focus and primary vertical markets. A few findings include: the singular most popular technology continues to be audio-visual presentation; Negotiated/direct sales account for 62.8% of company revenues, while corporate and educational markets topped all other vertical markets for total company revenue.
(Jim Evans)
