How to get featured in Inc.: pitching, the Inc. 5000 and paid programmes
There are three honest ways to get featured in Inc.: pitch a reporter or ask to contribute, earn a place on a list such as the Inc. 5000, or pay Inc. for a programme it labels as paid. Blue Leopard Media does not sell placements on Inc., so this guide is plain information on what Inc. itself offers, and on what to do if you want a sponsored feature elsewhere.
Key takeaways
- Blue Leopard Media does not sell placements on Inc., directly or through partners.
- Inc.'s help centre sends contributor enquiries to one address, contributors@inc.com, and publishes no word counts or rates.
- The Inc. 5000 ranks private US companies by three-year revenue growth and needs at least $100,000 in 2022 revenue and $2 million in 2025; Inc.'s editors can still exclude a company.
- Inc.'s paid pieces are labelled "PAID CONTENT" and carry no public price.
The short answer
To get featured in Inc., earn it or pay Inc. for a labelled programme. Earning it means pitching a reporter, asking to contribute, or qualifying for a list such as the Inc. 5000. Paying means one of Inc.'s own paid products, each marked as paid. If what you need is a credible, sponsored feature on a known date, our business publicity service publishes on the publications we work with, not on Inc.
Route 1: pitch a reporter or ask to contribute
Inc. runs staff reporters and outside contributors. Its help centre answers "How can I contribute to Inc.?" with one line: write to contributors@inc.com. I found no published word counts, pay rates or submission rules, so treat any figures quoted elsewhere as unconfirmed.
What improves your odds:
- Read the last ten stories from the reporter you want, and pitch one idea that fits their beat.
- Lead with a lesson, a number or a hard decision, not your product.
- Keep it short, send it to one person first, and follow up once.
Route 2: qualify for the Inc. 5000
The Inc. 5000 ranks America's fastest-growing private companies by percentage revenue growth over three years. For the 2026 list a company had to be privately held, for-profit, US-based and independent, founded and earning revenue by 31 March 2022, with at least $100,000 in revenue in 2022 and $2 million in 2025.
Applying is a process: an online application, revenue verification, then an editorial review. Inc. says its editors can exclude a company at their discretion, and that applications for the 2026 list are closed.
Route 3: Inc.'s paid programmes
Inc. sells three things that put your name on its site:
- Custom Studio and Branded Content. Inc.'s brand-content team produces thought-leadership pieces for marketers. Its Custom Studio page lists every piece under a "PAID CONTENT" tag, and Inc. publishes no price.
- Inc. Verified Profile. A purchased company profile page that Inc. pitches as a way to reach customers, investors and hires.
- Inc. Leadership Forum. A membership for founders and executives of Inc. honoree companies, plus some executives by editorial invitation. Members publish on inc.com under their own byline with an Inc. editor, and Inc. says articles take roughly three to four weeks from receipt to publication.
Describe any of these as what it is, and expect paid pieces to be labelled. The FTC says an ad should not suggest or imply that it is anything other than an ad, and Google's spam policies treat paid articles whose links pass ranking credit as link spam unless the links are marked nofollow or sponsored.
The routes compared with a sponsored feature
How the options compare:
| Pitching or contributing | Inc.'s paid programmes | Blue Leopard Media | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, or a PR retainer if you hire someone to pitch | No public price; Inc. quotes it | $249 for one feature, $499 for three, $999 for eight; no retainer |
| What is guaranteed | Nothing; Inc.'s editors decide | The product you buy, labelled as paid | Publication of the feature you approve |
| Time to go live | Weeks to months, if ever | Leadership Forum articles take about three to four weeks; others are not published | Within 24 hours of your approval, or a full refund for that feature |
| Where it appears | On Inc. | On Inc. | A publication we work with, not Inc. |
| Best for | A real story or a strong argument, and patience | Brands with a content budget that want Inc.'s audience | A credible, sponsored page about you on a date you know |
Inc. details are from its help centre, Custom Studio page and Inc. 5000 page, read on 10 October 2026. Blue Leopard Media terms are from our pricing page and refund policy.
Pitch Inc. properly if your story is strong, and check the Inc. 5000 criteria once a year. If you would rather have a labelled feature live this week, tell us about your company and we will say which feature fits.
Sources
- Inc. Help Center: How can I contribute to Inc.?
- Inc. Help Center: What Is Inc. Branded Content?
- Inc.: Custom Studio
- Inc.: Inc. 5000 list 2026 and eligibility
- Inc. Help Center: Inc. 5000, what is the application process?
- Inc. Help Center: How does publishing with the Inc. Leadership Forum work?
- FTC: Native Advertising, a guide for businesses
- Google Search Central: spam policies (link spam)
Frequently asked.
Does Blue Leopard Media sell features on Inc.?
No. Blue Leopard Media does not sell placements on Inc. We do not sell, arrange or broker any placement on inc.com, directly or through partners. We publish sponsored features on the publications we work with, and Inc. is not one of them.
How do I become an Inc. contributor?
Inc.'s help centre says to write to contributors@inc.com. It publishes no word counts, rates or rules, so ask in that email what Inc. expects before you write anything.
Can I pay to be featured in Inc.?
You can buy Inc.'s own paid products, such as branded content or a verified profile, and Inc. labels paid pieces as paid. Inc. publishes no prices. Be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed Inc. feature: ask which of these products, or which other website, you would actually get.
What does it take to make the Inc. 5000?
A private, independent, for-profit US company founded and earning revenue by 31 March 2022, with at least $100,000 in revenue in 2022 and $2 million in 2025, ranked by three-year growth and approved by Inc.'s editors.
Keep reading.
How much does it cost to get featured in Forbes?
Forbes coverage is free if a journalist picks you; Councils cost $2,800 to $6,800 a year, BrandVoice $50,000+. Blue Leopard Media sells no Forbes placements.
Read the guide CostsForbes Councils: what membership costs, and whether it is worth it
Forbes Councils costs $2,800 a year plus a $600 initiation fee, or $6,800 for Premium. What a membership buys, its limits, and when it is worth it.
Read the guide CoverageHow to get featured in Forbes: contributors, Councils, BrandVoice and pitching
How to get featured in Forbes: pitch a staff writer or contributor for free, apply to 30 Under 30, or pay Forbes for Councils ($2,800 a year) or BrandVoice.
Read the guideCredible coverage of you, live in 24 hours.
A sponsored feature about you or your company on one of the publications we work with (not Inc.), from $249 with your official cover. Live within 24 hours of your approval, or your money back.