Inc. Names Exit Factor to Its 2026 List of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Southeast and Founder Jessica Fialkovich to Its 2026 Female Founders 500
Press Release April 1, 2026
"Being recognized on both lists is incredibly meaningful because it reflects two sides of the same mission – building a purpose-driven company while helping other entrepreneurs do the same."

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, April 01, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Exit Factor®, the award-winning, leading franchise in business value enhancement and exit planning, is proud to announce dual honors from Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. The company has been ranked No. 9 on its sixth annual Inc. Regionals: Southeast list – the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Southeast. The region includes South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico.

Between 2022 and 2024, these 182 private companies, had a median growth rate of 89 percent; by 2024, they'd also added 12,079 jobs and $3.4 billion to the region's economy.

"The honorees on this year's Inc. Regionals list achieved exceptional growth at a time when the odds were against them. Amid inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing economic uncertainty, they didn't just persevere – they innovated, adapted, and thrived. Their resilience made them standouts in their industries and true growth engines in their regions," said Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc.

Additionally, Exit Factor's founder Jessica Fialkovich was named to Inc.'s 2026 Female Founders 500, an annual list honoring the most dynamic women business leaders in the United States. The honor recognizes founders whose bold ideas, resilience, and execution are shaping the future of their industries.

"Each year, we are increasingly amazed by the extraordinary leaders on our Inc. Female Founders 500 list," says Ghosh. "The honorees on this year's list include innovators in AI, beauty and wellness trendsetters winning devoted fans, and nonprofit leaders making a real impact in their communities. Together, they're showing all of us what trailblazing female leadership looks like."
The 2026 Female Founders honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025 revenue and $12.2 billion in funding to date, underscoring the economic impact of women-led businesses across sectors.

"Being recognized on both lists is incredibly meaningful because it reflects two sides of the same mission – building a purpose-driven company while helping other entrepreneurs do the same. At Exit Factor, we're focused on empowering business owners to grow stronger, more valuable companies that give them the freedom to exit on their terms. These honors are a testament to our team, our franchise partners, and the business owners we serve every day who are committed to long-term growth, smart strategy, and lasting impact."

Exit Factor is a multi-award-winning brand, recognized last year as Entrepreneur Magazine's 2025 Top New & Emerging Franchises, Inc.'s Best Workplaces 2025, and 2025 Inc. Power Partners. Fialkovich was also nominated for the Peter Christman Exit Planner of the Year by the Exit Planning Institute.

Complete results of the Inc. Regionals: Southeast, including company profiles and an interactive database sortable by industry and metro area, is available at: https://www.inc.com/regionals/southeast. To see the complete Female Founders 500 list, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders/2026.

For more information about Exit Factor and its franchise opportunities, visit http://www.exitfactorfranchise.com/.

About Exit Factor 
Exit Factor® offers a proven method that helps small to mid-size business owners maximize their company's value. It's part of the United Franchise Group™ (UFG) family of affiliated brands and consultants representing the best of their industries. Through one-on-one consulting services and online programs, the trusted advisors at Exit Factor teach entrepreneurs how to successfully improve their company's efficiency, value and ultimately ability to exit. Following its franchise launch in 2024, the company was ranked #1 in the business coaching/services category on Entrepreneur's 2025 Top New & Emerging Franchises and was also named among Inc.'s 2025 Best Workplaces and 2025 Power Partners. For more information, visit www.ExitFactor.com and for more information on owning an Exit Factor franchise, visit www.exitfactorfranchise.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.

# # #

Contact Information

Media Relations

Exit Factor

West Palm Beach, FL

United States

Telephone: 5616405570

Email: Email Us Here

Website: Visit Our Website