AL's Best Private Companies Ranked: See Who Made TIME's List

A dozen Alabama businesses have earned national recognition after being named to TIME magazine's inaugural list.

By Ryan Phillips, Patch Staff

Jul 8, 2026 10:36 am CDT

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A dozen Alabama businesses have earned national recognition after being named to TIME magazine's inaugural list of America's 500 Best Private Companies 2026.

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Created by TIME in partnership with Statista, the ranking evaluated companies using three primary criteria: employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability transparency.

The final score combined those factors to identify the nation's highest-performing private employers.

Leading the way for Alabama was EBSCO Industries, which ranked No. 3 nationally with a score of 94.20, making it one of the highest-rated private companies in the country.

A dozen Alabama companies made this year's list, representing industries ranging from construction and insurance to manufacturing, retail and restaurants.

Here's a look at the companies ranked by TIME

No. 3: EBSCO Industries — Business Services & Supplies (Score: 94.20)
No. 40: American Family Care — Insurance, Healthcare & Social Services (89.43)
No. 45: DSI Security Services — Professional Services (89.12)
No. 84: Books-A-Million — Retail, Wholesale & Consumer Goods (87.60)
No. 113: Upstream Rehabilitation — Insurance, Healthcare & Social Services (86.30)
No. 135: Brasfield & Gorrie — Real Estate (85.79)
No. 201: Jack's Family Restaurants — Hospitality, Travel & Leisure (83.47)
No. 261: Cook's Pest Control — Business Services & Supplies (81.29)
No. 463: Peco Foods — Food & Beverages (72.77)
No. 477: Alfa Insurance — Insurance, Healthcare & Social Services (72.05)
No. 480: Altec — Engineering, Manufacturing & Medical Technology (71.88)
No. 496: American Cast Iron Pipe — Engineering, Manufacturing & Medical Technology (71.37)

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