Comma Copywriters Makes Its Mark (Again!) on the “Utah Business” Fast 50
For the second time in two years, Comma Copywriters was honored as one of the fastest-growing companies in Utah at the 2022 Utah Business Fast 50 event.
As Comma celebrates its sixth anniversary with another appearance on the Fast 50, let’s take a closer look at how the company continues to grow alongside some of Utah’s best businesses.
How Companies Qualify for the Fast 50
Qualifying for the Fast 50 requires companies to be doing business for at least two years. Additionally, “Fast 50 companies are … selected based on a combination of revenue growth and total revenue and are vetted by Squire and Co. for financial accuracy. They are ranked in order of 2021 growth,” according to Utah Business.
“We doubled revenue three years in a row, and not many companies do that,” Crystalee Beck, founder and owner of Comma, explained. This rate of growth didn’t just keep Comma on the Fast 50 for consecutive years; it launched the company farther up the list. So far up the list, in fact, that Crystalee began to wonder if Comma was actually going to be called during the official ceremony.
“[Utah Business waits] until the Fast 50 luncheon to announce the order,” she said. As the list counted down through the forties and the thirties with no mention of her company, she recalled, “I was like, maybe they forgot us?”
When Comma was finally announced as the 24th fastest-growing company, Crystalee was thrilled to realize that the business made its way to the middle of the pack after slipping in at number 45 the previous year. Placing well on this type of list is not only good for gaining broader recognition among potential clients, but also for making the company seem like a much larger operation than it really is.
“For my little Comma to be on there, a little goldfish among all these whales — I’m proud of my goldfish!” Crystalee said.
What Sets Comma Copywriters Apart
Even if Comma Copywriters doesn’t qualify as a “whale” by enterprise standards, it’s certainly swimming in a competitive part of the ocean. According to recent census data, there are 32.5 million small businesses in the United States. We’re not talking about single-person operations: small businesses employ 61 million people, and at least 41% of the workforce in every state is made up of small-business employees. (That number climbs to over 60% in some states!)
Still, business ownership isn’t for everyone, and knowing how to adapt when times get tough is essential — and times will be tough at some point for almost every business. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (October 2020 - October 2021), small businesses took a hit:
22% temporarily closed a location
7% were able to reopen after closing down
17% closed permanently
The fact that Comma didn’t merely survive but actually thrived over the past few years is a testament to Crystalee’s commitment to her team. She is extremely proud of the fact that Comma is not only completely bootstrapped and profitable but is also woman-owned (only 20% of small businesses are) and women-led.
“There aren’t a ton of women-owned companies on the [Fast 50] list … and I don’t think there’s a single business there that is 95% women,” Crystalee said. “And I know we're the only company where we’re all part-time, and four out of seven leadership team members had babies in the last year. I guarantee no one else in that room could say that!”
Taking Pride In Our Work
The Fast 50 designation is an honor, but it also holds a lot of professional importance for Crystalee.
“Professionally, it sets us apart in terms of caliber that we can show up with the biggest and fastest growing companies in the state,” she said. “It makes us more attractive as a service provider.”
But Comma’s appearance on the list also holds personal meaning for Crystalee: “Personally, it gives me something tangible and concrete to reference. I’m proud of my team, and I’m proud of myself, too. [Prior to founding Comma] I’d never run a business before. In six years, to be at the point where we’ve grown and be in a position to be on a list like this, I’m really proud of myself and my team.”
Even with careful planning, expert forecasting, and the best intentions, some businesses will still inevitably fail to operate after a year. Knowing this makes Crystalee even more grateful for Comma’s place on the Fast 50 list.
“I’d say that building Comma has been one of the biggest efforts of my life,” she said. “It’s one of the things I’ve put the most of myself into, so it feels really good to have it grow.”
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