The Business Journals
The Business Journals operates a network of 46 city-specific business news publications across major US metropolitan markets, providing local business intelligence, verified company data, newsletters, events, and advertising solutions to business professionals and B2B marketers under parent American City Business Journals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Business Journals does
The Business Journals operates a network of 46 city-specific business news publications across major US metropolitan markets, delivering local business intelligence, editorial coverage, and structured company data products to business professionals and B2B advertisers. The company, legally American City Business Journals, Inc. (ACBJ), is headquartered at 120 W. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC, was founded in 1985, and is privately held with 101–250 employees. The platform combines local editorial teams in markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, San Francisco, Seattle, and dozens of others, with a suite of digital products and data assets.
The product portfolio spans the main digital publishing platform, the Book of Lists (annual rankings with verified executive and company data updated week-over-week), email newsletters (including The National Observer), a Digital Edition replica of the weekly print publication, the Public Records database (real estate transactions, bankruptcies, building permits, legal filings), BizSpotlight (a company newswire for press release distribution), and BizEquity (a business valuation tool). Adjacent sub-brands include AmericanInno (startup and innovation coverage), Bizwomen (women's business leadership), Hemmings, and Portfolio.com. The underlying technology is a digital publishing platform with multi-market local editions, integrated with Google Analytics for audience measurement and Ethyca for consent management; the company maintains compliance with CCPA, GDPR, CPPA, CTDPA, VCDPA, and UCPA. No proprietary AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or SDKs are disclosed.
Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) recurring digital subscriptions starting at a $4-for-4-weeks promotional trial and $90/year standard, distributed via self-serve online purchase; (2) display, native, and sponsored-content advertising sold to B2B marketers seeking access to a highly affluent audience (62% top management, $2.2M average net worth, 85% college-educated); and (3) events and sponsorships around awards programs (Best Places to Work, 40 Under 40, Women of Influence, Deals of the Year, Most Admired CEOs) and conferences. Leadership includes Ray Shaw (Chairman), Alan Ives (EVP Sales & Marketing), Tina Phillips (VP National Sales/Western Region), and Megan Lombardo (VP National, Chicago, NYC & LA Advertising Sales & Revenue).
The Business Journals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Business Journals
- Legal name
- American City Business Journals, Inc.
- Website
- https://bizjournals.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Business Journals operates a network of 46 city-specific business news publications across major US metropolitan markets, providing local business intelligence, verified company data, newsletters, events, and advertising solutions to business professionals and B2B marketers under parent American City Business Journals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Business Journals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business News & Media
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120), Periodical Publishers (51312)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C) (MPAJADAJ)
Keywords
Where The Business Journals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Business Journals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Revenue: Digital subscriptions providing access to exclusive content, market intelligence, Lists data, and premium news coverage. Subscription tiers include promotional trial ($4 for 4 weeks) and annual plans ($90/year).
- Advertising: Display advertising and targeted advertising sold to B2B marketers, sponsors, and business service companies seeking to reach affluent business professionals and executives. Includes native content, sponsored content, and event sponsorships.
- Events and Sponsorships: Revenue from event tickets, sponsorships, and partnerships around awards programs, conferences, and networking events across local markets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Digital Subscription - Annual |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Business Journals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Business Journals is a network of 44+ city-specific business news publications operating under American City Business Journals (ACBJ). It sells digital subscriptions providing access to local business intelligence, premium editorial coverage, the Book of Lists (ranked company data), newsletters, digital editions, and a public records database. The company also monetizes through B2B advertising, sponsored content, and ticketed/sponsored awards events and conferences targeting business professionals and executives across US metropolitan markets.
Product overview
The Business Journals is a network of 40+ city-specific business news publications offering a unified platform for local business intelligence. The core product provides local business news coverage across multiple verticals including Commercial Real Estate, Banking, Technology, Health Care, and Residential Real Estate. The portfolio includes the flagship publication, the Book of Lists (annual business rankings), Digital Edition, Newsletters, Events & Awards, BizSpotlight (company newswire), Public Records database, and BizEquity (business valuation tool). Sub-brands include American Inno (startup/innovation coverage) and Bizwomen (women's business leadership content). The platform operates on a subscription model with tiered access to content and data products, supplemented by advertising solutions for business-to-business marketers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AmericanInno: Innovation and startup news coverage under the American City Business Journals portfolio
- Bizwomen
- BizEquity
Products and services
- The Business Journals (Main Platform) A network of 44+ city-specific business news publications providing local business intelligence, industry coverage, and market insights for executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners across US metropolitan markets.
- Book of Lists Annual ranking lists of top businesses by industry, revenue, and location, available as downloadable data for sales prospecting, business research, and competitive intelligence.
- Newsletters Email newsletters including the National Observer and topic-specific editions delivering curated business news, industry updates, and market intelligence to subscribers.
- Events & Awards Programs In-person and virtual events including award ceremonies (40 Under 40, Best Places to Work, Deals of the Year), networking opportunities, and conferences for business professionals.
- BizSpotlight Company newswire service allowing businesses to distribute press releases, announcements, and achievements to the Business Journals audience.
- Digital Edition Online digital version of the weekly print publication with full articles, layouts, and multimedia content for subscribers.
- Public Records Database
Quantifiable outcome
- Subscribers gain access to Lists data with verified intelligence on local businesses and decision makers, updated week-over-week
Companies that use The Business Journals
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Business Journals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
The Business Journals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Business Journals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Forbes Media: Forbes is a direct competitor in business news and thought leadership, monetized via a similar mix of premium subscriptions, advertising/sponsored content (Forbes Marketplace), and events. Audience profile and B2B advertiser overlap is closely aligned with The Business Journals.
- Fortune Media: Fortune is a direct competitor in business news with subscription, advertising, and a high-profile events franchise (Fortune Most Powerful Women, Fortune Global Forum) that mirrors The Business Journals' awards/events model.
- Business Insider: Business Insider is a direct peer as a digital-first business news subscription and advertising business targeting executives and decision-makers, with a comparable self-serve subscription funnel and B2B advertiser base.
- Crain Communications: Crain Communications operates a portfolio of regional and vertical business publications (Crain's New York Business, Crain's Detroit Business, Ad Age, Modern Healthcare) — the closest structural analog to The Business Journals' multi-city, multi-vertical local business publication network.
- Inc. (Mansueto Ventures): Inc. targets founders and growth-stage business owners with subscription, advertising, and events (Inc. 5000) — a tightly overlapping audience with The Business Journals' executive and entrepreneur readership.
- Entrepreneur Media: Entrepreneur Media publishes business and startup content monetized through subscriptions, advertising, and events — competing for the same SMB and executive audience that The Business Journals targets.
Emerging players
- Politico: Politico is a comparable digital-first subscription business-news/news brand with a strong events and B2B subscription flywheel, demonstrating a similar monetization model but in the policy/business intersection rather than local markets.
- Industry Dive: Industry Dive is a fast-growing digital B2B trade publisher with a subscription-first model across verticals — a relevant emerging competitor demonstrating the migration of business/news publishing toward vertical-specialized, subscription-led models.
Broad incumbents
- Dow Jones (Wall Street Journal): Dow Jones / WSJ is the dominant incumbent in business news subscriptions and B2B advertising, with overlapping executive audiences but a national/global rather than hyperlocal focus.
- Bloomberg Media: Bloomberg Media is a broad incumbent in premium business news subscriptions and advertising, targeting the same executive and finance decision-maker audience that The Business Journals monetizes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Business Journals social profiles
Digital presenceThe Business Journals compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
The Business Journals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Business Journals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Business Journals subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
The Business Journals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Business Journals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Business Journals
What does The Business Journals do?
The Business Journals is a network of 44+ city-specific business news publications operating under American City Business Journals (ACBJ). It sells digital subscriptions providing access to local business intelligence, premium editorial coverage, the Book of Lists (ranked company data), newsletters, digital editions, and a public records database. The company also monetizes through B2B advertising, sponsored content, and ticketed/sponsored awards events and conferences targeting business professionals and executives across US metropolitan markets.
Is The Business Journals a public or private company?
The Business Journals is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Business Journals founded?
The Business Journals was founded in 1985. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Business Journals based?
The Business Journals is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Business Journals make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Revenue is the primary driver. The others are advertising and events and Sponsorships.
Who are The Business Journals's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Forbes Media, Fortune Media, Business Insider, Crain Communications, Inc. (Mansueto Ventures) and Entrepreneur Media. Emerging players are Politico and Industry Dive. Broad incumbents are Dow Jones (Wall Street Journal) and Bloomberg Media.
Does The Business Journals have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Business Journals.
What industry is The Business Journals in?
The Business Journals's product category is Business News & Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAM, Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJADAJ, Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C). Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.