Earn Some Recognition in SD&I's Annual Fast50

Last year, the smart home explosion enabled a residential-focused security dealer to be named the fastest-growing provider in North America. What trend(s) will power tomorrow’s fastest-growing security service providers? Thanks to our annual Fast50 program, you won’t have to wait long to find out.

Now entering its sixth year, SD&I’s Fast50 has traditionally ranked the top 50 fastest-growing security dealers and integrators while giving our readers a little insight into the best practices that power these companies. Last year, we expanded the program to bring you timely and relevant market research, revealing tips and strategies for talent acquisition, marketing to customers, growth markets and technologies and much more.

The Fast50 is currently open for submissions at www.securityinfowatch.com/sdifast50 (hurry, the survey is only open until Feb. 27). In addition to the traditional rankings and market research on growth markets and technologies, this year, Fast50 entering company executives will have the chance to submit and read peer opinions on topics such as:

• Changes coming as a result of the recent leadership changes in Washington;
• The effect of M&A activity and/or vendor consolidation on your business;
• How to take advantage of 21st century marketing capabilities/technologies;
• Attracting new talent on the technical and/or sales fronts; and
• The challenges associated when adding a new technology category or product?

Once again, we will not only honor the fastest-growing and cutting edge security dealers and integrators, but SD&I will truly deliver information and data you can use in your daily business improvements and operations.

The thing is, this type of research won’t be valuable without the help of the company executives that make up much of our loyal readership. Once again this year, we have opened up the Fast50 even to those companies unwilling to share financial data with us — specifically company executive can complete the survey without being considered for the “rankings” portion of the program.

We are hoping that this will open the flood gates even further to deliver you the valuable (and free) research and insight to help you run a more profitable security services business.

Public Recognition

This year, the Fast50 list will be officially unveiled at ISC West, during a mainstage ceremony outside the exhibits hall. If your company chooses to enter the rankings portion, all of the top 50 will be mentioned at the ceremony, with the customary top five being called on stage. The top five firms will be featured in SD&I, with the top company on the cover of our April issue, as NorthStar Home was last year. (See the ad on the facing page of this column for more info).

About the Program
The Fast50 recognizes growth across the entire landscape of security systems contracting, from alarm dealers and installers to systems integrators — of course, including the many smaller companies that make up our industry.

Fast50 is different because of the way we compile the rankings. Companies are recognized and ranked based on their year-to-year percentage and revenue growth, with our special algorithm balancing those numbers over a three-year period. That provides the ability to recognize all kinds of companies, large and small; thus, every firm has an equal chance to earn a ranking in the program. If your company has enjoyed three consecutive years of growth, it has a great chance to be recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing systems integrators.

It is important to note that any financial information provided for the survey will be kept under a strict non-disclosure rule. Because we base the awards on year-to-year percentage growth and overall revenue growth, the only numbers published will be the basic percentages — none of the hard numbers will ever be released.

How to Enter
Entering the Fast50 is easy, and it’s free. Simply visit www.securityinfowatch.com/sdifast50 and click the "Enter Here" link to fill out the survey. Remember to be prepared with the following:

1. Your company’s gross revenues for the last three consecutive reporting years (if you would like to be considered for the rankings portion of the program);
2. A company executive’s perspective on growth markets and technologies; several market trends; and a few of your company’s best practices.