Better Than Before

If the sales figures submitted by this year’s 46 Top Companies are any indication, Southwest Florida’s economy is showing signs of improvement. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed reported increases in gross annual revenues compared with a 50-50 split in gains and losses the year before.

Leading the upswing were health-care related operations and tech firms. Retail—clothing and automotive—also finished on a positive note. Construction companies experienced a tough year, but a few managed to show growth, largely by expanding their services and geographic boundaries.

The listing’s top 10 remain the same as last year; most of those organizations reported higher revenues in 2010. There are several newcomers to the ranking, but some previous entries fell out either because they chose not to participate or went out of business, such as home furnishings giant Robb & Stucky.

The list is compiled from information provided by privately held companies and from public information where it’s available. Results are based on gross revenue, with a minimum requirement of $8 million. The net income—whether companies made a profit or experienced a loss and by how much—is not presented.

Real estate companies, law firms and chain hotels are among the industries not listed because of inequitable reporting practices. In addition, insurance firms were asked to base their gross revenues on commissions rather than premiums to make it more comparable.

We know that some companies that would qualify might not be on the list, and we’d like to hear about them for future consideration. If you know of one, please contact Editor Phil Borchmann at philb@gulfshorebusiness.com or (239) 449-4151.

Read on for the 2011 list of Southwest Florida’s top companies.