Meet the 2025 Power Partners in Small & Mighty Companies

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. It is the boutique teams, or solo founders, that often provide the most exemplary services to businesses in need. For that, Inc. celebrates the teams of fewer than 24 employees that help other founders thrive with the Small & Mighty recognition.

Take the Proposal Lab, a Washington, D.C., a business development and federal procurement firm with just five employees that supports businesses with strategic planning. Their clients say the company offers a personalized touch—which is perhaps why the company has achieved a 90 percent client retention rate over seven years. The Proposal Lab “works like an internal part of the company,” the D.C.-based consulting firm WhitworthKee tells Inc. “As a result, their level of engagement and connection to the company allows for a stronger presentation and company readiness to prospective partners and clients.”

No one understands the hardships of a small business like another small business. San Francisco-based insurance and employee benefits company StretchDollar, with a team of 14 people, is helping fellow small businesses offer competitive health benefits to clients. “As a small business, managing HR and providing affordable health insurance was a major challenge—time-consuming, expensive, and with limited options,” Amesbury, Massachusetts-based recycling firm M&K Recovery Group tells Inc. “The StretchDollar team was incredibly helpful, guiding us through every step of the process with clarity and support.”

That familiarity between small businesses is what empowers these Power Partners to thoughtfully customize offerings for their clients. The Sherwood, Oregon-based professional training and coaching services company Mary Czarnecki does exactly that by offering customized strategic workshops. “The training was both best-in-class information based on her ‘standard’ training units, but also was able to meet my team where it was,” Bernardsville, New Jersey-based personal health product company Ultima Health tells Inc. “As a result, the training was much more actionable.”

By letting companies do what they do best, the Small & Mighty Power Partners are helping business owners launch, run, and grown their companies, no matter the size.