Birmingham’s EBSCO Industries ranks #3 on TIME’s Best Private Companies list

Birmingham-based EBSCO Industries is the third best private company in America according to a report by TIME.

Released in July 2026, the prestigious national publication teamed up with global data experts Statista to release their first edition of America’s Best Private Companies.

The analysis published by TIME highlights 500 privately owned companies nationwide that excel in employee satisfaction and a positive net impact on society. 

EBSCO ranks 3rd nationally

Patagonia, the outdoor apparel and sporting goods company topped TIME’s inaugural list, followed by Wegman’s Food Markets and then Birmingham’s own EBSCO Industries.

If you’re unfamiliar with EBSCO, the company’s origins go back as far as 1930 when its founder Elton B. Stephens Sr. began selling magazines to put himself through college and law school. 

After deciding he could earn more money as a salesman than a lawyer, Stephens founded the Military Services Company (MSC) in 1944, selling magazine subscriptions, personalized binders and magazine racks to the armed forces.

Over the years, the privately-owned company grew, acquiring a diverse portfolio of businesses, eventually becoming EBSCO Industries.  

Today, the company owns around 20 different businesses in several different industries, including:

• Electrical distribution sales 
• Insurance
• Library databases
• Luxury real estate 
• Outdoor products
• Stand up desks.

7 additional Birmingham-headquartered private businesses top TIME’s list

In addition to EBSCO, seven other Birmingham-based private companies made TIME’s top 500 private companies in America list.

Here are the Birmingham-headquartered companies and their rankings:

• #40 – American Family Care
• #84 – Books-A-Million
• #113 – Upstream Rehabilitation
• #135 – Brasfield & Gorrie
• #201 – Jack’s Family Restaurants
• #480 – Altec
• #491 – American Cast Iron and Pipe

Each of these companies have a long history in Birmingham, and like EBSCO are renowned for their civic support along with their economic impact.

For example, EBSCO was recently responsible for a significant expansion of Oak Mountain State Park, and Brasfield & Gorrie led efforts to construct a new engineering building on UAB’s campus.