Springfield Business Journal
Springfield Business Journal is an independent, locally owned weekly business newspaper and multi-platform news organization serving Springfield and southwest Missouri since 1980, offering print, digital, events, and custom publishing products to the regional business community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersSpringfield, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Springfield Business Journal does
Springfield Business Journal (SBJ) is a regional weekly business newspaper and multi-platform news organization serving Springfield and southwest Missouri, founded in July 1980 by Dianne Elizabeth Osis as the oldest business journal in the state of Missouri. Operating under the legal entity SBJ Publishing, an independent and locally owned Missouri corporation, SBJ provides business news coverage, professional recognition programs, networking events, and targeted advertising opportunities to the regional business and professional community. Unlike peer publications in St. Louis and Kansas City that launched the same year, SBJ has remained locally owned and independent throughout its 45-year operating history, with Jennifer Jackson serving as longtime owner and President until her retirement on January 2, 2026, when Marty Goodnight assumed the publisher and owner role.
The company operates across four core product lines: a weekly print newspaper, the sbj.net digital news platform with daily and breaking business news, a digital edition distributed via FlippingBook with archives back to January 2023, and a custom publishing division producing special publications (Giving Guide, Great Places to Work, How She Leads, Progress, Who's Who in Business). Supporting content channels include e-newsletters, podcasts, photo galleries, and sponsored content verticals such as SBJLive, Evolution, and Momentum. Underlying technology is a standard digital news platform with content management, e-newsletter distribution, and digital edition rendering — no proprietary AI/ML systems, APIs, or developer platforms are indicated.
SBJ's revenue model spans four streams: print and digital subscriptions (recurring), advertising (targeted to southwest Missouri's business community), events and sponsorships (a yearlong calendar including 40 Under 40, Dynamic Dozen, Most Influential Women, Men of the Year, Economic Impact Awards, Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks, and the 12 People You Need to Know breakfast series), and custom publishing/special publications. The company employs approximately 10-15 staff across editorial, creative, advertising, and administration, and operates from a single headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. SBJ has received top industry awards from the Alliance of Area Business Publications and the Missouri Press Association.
Springfield Business Journal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Springfield Business Journal
- Legal name
- SBJ Publishing
- Website
- https://sbj.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Springfield Business Journal is an independent, locally owned weekly business newspaper and multi-platform news organization serving Springfield and southwest Missouri since 1980, offering print, digital, events, and custom publishing products to the regional business community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Springfield Business Journal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Business News
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (51311)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business, Financial & Trade News Publishers (MPAJADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)
Keywords
Where Springfield Business Journal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Springfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Springfield Business Journal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Print and Digital Subscriptions: Weekly newspaper subscription and online access to sbj.net content
- Advertising: Targeted advertising to business and professional community in southwest Missouri
- Events and Sponsorships: Yearlong calendar of recognition events including 40 Under 40, Dynamic Dozen, Business Leaders of the Year, and 12 People You Need to Know breakfast series
- Custom Publishing: Special publications and custom publishing division producing targeted print publications and events
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Springfield Business Journal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Springfield Business Journal publishes a weekly print newspaper and operates the SBJ.net online platform delivering local and regional business news, breaking stories, and industry coverage for Springfield and southwest Missouri. Beyond news, it runs an events division producing annual recognition awards (40 Under 40, Dynamic Dozen, Business Leaders of the Year, Most Influential Women, Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks, Economic Impact Awards) and a monthly interview series, and a custom publishing division producing themed special publications.
Product overview
Springfield Business Journal operates as a multi-platform business news organization offering a print weekly newspaper as its core product, complemented by the SBJ.net online platform with daily news, digital editions, email newsletters, podcasts, and photo galleries. The company also runs an events division producing annual awards programs (40 Under 40, Dynamic Dozen, Business Leaders of the Year, Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks) and a monthly interview series called '12 People You Need to Know'. Custom publishing produces special publications including the Giving Guide, Great Places to Work, and Who's Who in Business.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Springfield Business Journal (Print Edition) Award-winning weekly print newspaper covering local and regional business news for Springfield and southwest Missouri, established in July 1980.
- SBJ.net Online Platform Interactive electronic services providing daily and breaking business news, targeted newsletters, and online content for the Springfield business community.
- Digital Edition Weekly digital edition of the newspaper accessible through FlippingBook format, with archives going back to January 2023.
- Special Publications Custom publishing division producing special publications including Giving Guide, Great Places to Work, How She Leads, Progress, Who's Who in Business, and other themed reports.
- Events and Awards Programs Annual recognition events including 40 Under 40, Dynamic Dozen, Most Influential Women, Men of the Year, Economic Impact Awards, Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks, Business Leaders of the Year, and Business Impact Awards.
- 12 People You Need to Know Monthly breakfast live interview series featuring influential business leaders in the community.
- SBJ Podcasts Audio content featuring business news, interviews, and industry coverage.
- E-Newsletter Targeted email newsletters delivering business news and updates to subscribers.
Companies that use Springfield Business Journal
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Springfield Business Journal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Springfield Business Journal partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- State Bank of Southwest MissouriminorTiffany Nichols, senior vice president of State Bank of Southwest Missouri, verified revenue numbers submitted by applicants for the Dynamic Dozen list of fastest-growing companies.
- Visit Springfield, MissouricoreVisit Springfield, formerly Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc., partners with SBJ for event coverage and promotion of local events including the Coca-Cola Collectors Club convention. Visit Springfield provides marketing support and economic impact data for events covered by SBJ.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Springfield Business Journal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- St. Louis Business Journal: Regional weekly business journal serving the St. Louis metro, founded in 1980 alongside SBJ. Owned by American City Business Journals, but directly comparable in format, audience, and product mix — providing a natural read-across on valuation and operating benchmarks.
- Kansas City Business Journal: Regional weekly business journal covering the Kansas City metro, also launched in 1980. Same product format (weekly print + digital + events) as SBJ but owned by American City Business Journals; one of the closest direct comparables for audience and revenue mix.
Regional players
- Springfield News-Leader: General-interest daily newspaper serving Springfield, Missouri. Operates in the same geographic market and overlaps with SBJ on local news and digital subscriptions, though focused on general news rather than business verticals.
Broad incumbents
- American City Business Journals: Parent of 40+ regional business journals including the St. Louis and Kansas City titles that compete with SBJ. Closest national-scale peer and the most likely acquirer of regional business journals; sets industry-wide benchmarks for events, custom publishing, and digital subscription models.
- Forbes: National business news brand with regional editions and Forbes 30 Under 30 / 30/50 Summit events. Comparable on business journalism and recognition-event franchise, though operating at vastly larger scale and national reach.
- Inc. Magazine: National business publication with Inc. 5000 franchise and events focused on growing private companies. Comparable to SBJ's Dynamic Dozen and 40 Under 40 awards as a recognition-event business model targeting growing businesses.
- Bloomberg: Global business and financial news leader. While not a direct competitor for Springfield advertisers, it competes for the same end-user attention from local business professionals and sets the digital subscription benchmark SBJ.net must measure against.
- The Wall Street Journal: National business daily with deep penetration among US business decision-makers. Competes with SBJ for premium subscriber attention and corporate advertising dollars in the Springfield market, particularly with regional executives.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Springfield Business Journal social profiles
Digital presenceSpringfield Business Journal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Springfield Business Journal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Springfield Business Journal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Springfield Business Journal M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Springfield Business Journal
What does Springfield Business Journal do?
Springfield Business Journal publishes a weekly print newspaper and operates the SBJ.net online platform delivering local and regional business news, breaking stories, and industry coverage for Springfield and southwest Missouri. Beyond news, it runs an events division producing annual recognition awards (40 Under 40, Dynamic Dozen, Business Leaders of the Year, Most Influential Women, Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks, Economic Impact Awards) and a monthly interview series, and a custom publishing division producing themed special publications.
Is Springfield Business Journal a public or private company?
Springfield Business Journal is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Springfield Business Journal founded?
Springfield Business Journal was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Springfield Business Journal based?
Springfield Business Journal is headquartered in Springfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Springfield Business Journal make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Print and Digital Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising, events and Sponsorships and custom Publishing.
Who are Springfield Business Journal's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are St. Louis Business Journal and Kansas City Business Journal. Springfield News-Leader is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are American City Business Journals, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.
Does Springfield Business Journal have an API?
No public API is recorded for Springfield Business Journal.
What industry is Springfield Business Journal in?
Springfield Business Journal's product category is Regional Business News. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAC, Business, Financial & Trade News Publishers, with a secondary code of MPAJADAB, Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 51311 and its SIC code is 2711.