Business Publications Corporation, Inc

What Business Publications Corporation, Inc does

Business Publications Corporation, Inc. (BPC) is a privately held Des Moines-based business media company founded in 1983 that operates the Business Record and dsm magazine, serving Iowa's business community with statewide and Central Iowa editorial coverage. The company's product surface spans two flagship publications, nine email newsletters (including Business Record Daily, Commercial Real Estate Weekly, Innovation Iowa Weekly, and Fearless), six podcasts delivered through the 2025-launched BPC Streaming Network, eight specialty publications such as the Annual Real Estate Magazine and Book of Lists, and a recurring calendar of business events and awards programs including Forty Under 40, CFO of the Year, Women of Influence, and the Commercial Real Estate Forum.

Underlying technology is a multi-channel publishing stack: a WordPress-based digital hub at businessrecord.com, email delivery via DragonForms, and the BPC Streaming Network built in partnership with Iowa Everywhere to distribute video and audio podcasts on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. The company also operates physical venue operations through its Krause Group partnership at the Krause Gateway Center.

BPC monetizes across five revenue streams: advertising placements across publications, website, newsletters, and streaming; premium subscriptions for exclusive content and member benefits; membership programs; event and awards revenue; and branded specialty publications (e.g., Book of Lists, Annual Real Estate Magazine). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with annual billing for premium tiers. Customer segments center on Iowa business professionals, real estate and development stakeholders, manufacturers (via the Made in Iowa vertical), women leaders (via the Fearless initiative), and economic development organizations. National credibility has been earned through repeated Alliance of Area Business Publishers editorial excellence awards in 2025 and 2026.

Name

Business Publications Corporation, Inc

Legal name

Business Publications Corporation, Inc.

Website

https://businessrecord.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Business Publications Corporation is an Iowa-focused business media company that publishes the Business Record and dsm magazine, producing newsletters, podcasts, specialty publications, and awards events for Iowa business professionals across real estate, manufacturing, innovation, and women's leadership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Media and Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business, Personal Finance & Careers Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAK)

Keywords

• Business news publishing
• Business journalism media
• Industry newsletters
• Business events awards
• Specialty magazines

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising: The company generates revenue through advertising placements across its publications, website, newsletters, and streaming network. Advertisers include local businesses, healthcare organizations, financial institutions, and other Iowa companies.
2. Subscriptions: Premium subscription model providing access to exclusive content, newsletters, and member benefits including Business Record Daily, Commercial Real Estate Weekly, Business Record Iowa, Innovation Iowa Weekly, and Fearless newsletter.
3. Membership: Membership program offering premium subscriber benefits including exclusive content, events access, and networking opportunities.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from hosting business events including awards programs, conferences, forecasts, and networking events such as Forty Under 40, CFO of the Year, Women of Influence, and Innovation Iowa awards.
5. Specialty Publications: Revenue from specialty publications including Annual Real Estate Magazine, Book of Lists, innovationIOWA Magazine, Made in Iowa, and other branded content publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Business Publications Corporation is an Iowa-based business media company that publishes the Business Record and dsm magazine, alongside nine email newsletters, six podcasts distributed via the BPC Streaming Network, specialty annual publications (Annual Real Estate Magazine, Book of Lists, Innovation Iowa Magazine), and a calendar of business events and awards programs. It sells subscriptions, advertising, premium memberships, and event sponsorships to Iowa business professionals, real estate practitioners, manufacturers, and women leaders.

Product overview

Business Publications Corporation operates a multi-platform media company consisting of digital and print news publications (Business Record, dsm magazine), multiple email newsletters (Business Record Daily, Commercial Real Estate Weekly, Business Record Iowa, Innovation Iowa Weekly, Fearless), a podcast and video streaming network (BPC Streaming Network with 6 podcasts including Made in Iowa, Iowa Economy, Fearless, and Iowa Stops Hunger), specialty publications (Annual Real Estate Magazine, Book of Lists, Innovation Iowa Magazine), and events/awards programs (Forty Under 40, CFO of the Year, Women of Influence, Power Breakfast, Economic Forecast). The portfolio covers Iowa business news, commercial real estate, innovation and entrepreneurship, and lifestyle content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Annual Real Estate Magazine: Business Record's Annual Real Estate magazine providing market analysis, detailed listing information and showcasing leaders within the industry.
• 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes
• Book of Lists
• Made in Iowa
• Innovation Iowa Magazine
• Pillars of Philanthropy
• Greater
• Fearless

Products and services

• Business Record Digital and print business news publication covering Iowa business news, trends, and analysis across industries including banking, real estate, health care, manufacturing, and economic development.
• dsm magazine Lifestyle publication covering food, dining, arts, culture, and wealth topics in the Greater Des Moines area.
• Business Record Daily Newsletter Twice-daily email newsletter delivering local business news, business trends, original reporting, and curated state and national stories.
• Commercial Real Estate Weekly Newsletter Weekly Wednesday newsletter keeping real estate and development professionals informed about industry news, trends, challenges, and people.
• Business Record Iowa Newsletter Weekly Friday newsletter aggregating Iowa's top statewide headlines from Business Record and news outlets across the state.
• Innovation Iowa Weekly Newsletter Thursday newsletter reaching a statewide audience, connecting and activating people and organizations transforming Iowa.
• Fearless Newsletter Newsletter initiative to empower Iowa women to succeed in work and life, covering entrepreneurship, leadership, childcare, and gender equity topics.
• Iowa Economy Podcast Monthly expert insights podcast on Iowa's economy, workforce, and business climate, hosted by Chris Conetzkey.
• Made in Iowa Podcast Manufacturing podcast celebrating Iowa's makers, manufacturers, and business leaders, hosted by Leisa Fox.
• Business Record Iowa News Headlines Podcast Weekly briefing podcast providing focused recap of top stories from across Iowa, hosted by Sarah Diehn.
• Fearless Podcast Podcast featuring conversations with women trailblazers on courage, resilience, and impact in work and life, hosted by Emily Wood, LaDrina Wilson, and Macey Shofroth.
• Iowa Stops Hunger Podcast Podcast exploring food insecurity issues and solutions in Iowa, featuring conversations with businesses and nonprofits creating solutions.
• dsm Wealth Podcast Monthly podcast on finance, investing, and building wealth, hosted by Suzanna de Baca.
• Annual Real Estate Magazine Annual magazine providing market analysis, detailed listing information, and industry leader profiles for the commercial real estate market.
• Book of Lists Definitive resource guide for Central Iowa business professionals with over 70 industry lists, local leader profiles, and market facts.
• Innovation Iowa Magazine Magazine showcasing Iowa innovators and their stories, focusing on practical innovation in various industries.
• BPC Streaming Network Digital streaming platform in partnership with Iowa Everywhere, delivering video and audio podcasts on demand including six BPC podcasts, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
• Business Record Events and Awards Programs Annual ticketed conferences, networking events, and recurring awards programs such as Forty Under 40, CFO of the Year, Women of Influence, Innovation Iowa Leader Award, Commercial Real Estate Forum, Economic Forecast, Manufacturing Forecast, and Best of Des Moines, serving Iowa business professionals and community leaders.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Iowa EverywherecoreTechnology or Integration · 13 November 2025BPC Streaming Network is a partnership with Iowa Everywhere, a locally-owned statewide digital media company. This partnership allows BPC to extend its trusted journalism through video and audio podcasts on demand, reaching audiences across multiple platforms including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
• Krause GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025Business Publications Corp. partnered with Krause Group to serve as the booking and logistics partner for the Krause Gateway Center event space. The partnership advances business and community initiatives at the Des Moines venue.
• Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue ShieldmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWellmark serves as the presenting sponsor of the Made in Iowa Podcast, supporting coverage of Iowa's manufacturing economy and innovative makers and manufacturers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American City Business Journals: The largest US network of regional business journals (40+ city editions including Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kansas City, Milwaukee). Operates the same multi-platform model — weekly business journals, Book of Lists franchises, events/awards, newsletters — making it the closest direct peer and competitor for BPC's model and product set.
• Crain's Chicago Business: Long-running regional business news publication (Crain Communications) covering a major metro business community via print, digital, events (e.g., Crain's Most Influential), and awards — directly comparable in structure and audience model to Business Record, though at much larger Chicago scale.
• Indianapolis Business Journal: Indiana-based regional business journal operating weekly print, digital, IBJ Magazine, and a heavy events/awards calendar (Forty Under 40, Best Places to Work). Nearly identical GTM model to BPC and a useful size/scale comparable for a Midwestern city business journal.
• Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: ACBJ-owned Twin Cities edition covering the Minneapolis-St. Paul business community. Direct geographic and product analog to Business Record as a Midwestern ACBJ city journal, with comparable newsletters, events, and Book of Lists franchise.
• Buffalo Business First: ACBJ's Buffalo/Niagara regional business journal. Smaller-market ACBJ city edition sharing the same Book of Lists, events, and weekly print model as BPC, providing a useful smaller-market comparable for valuation and operating benchmarks.
• Crain's Detroit Business: Crain Communications' Detroit regional business publication with weekly print, digital, events, and awards. Comparable regional business media GTM with a metro-market focus similar to BPC's Iowa focus.
• BizTimes Milwaukee: Wisconsin-based regional business publication covering Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin business news via print, digital, and events. Closely comparable in size, market type, and product mix to Business Record's Central Iowa focus.
• Corridor Business Journal: Iowa City/Cedar Rapids 'Corridor' regional business publication serving Eastern Iowa. Closest direct geographic competitor to BPC, sharing the same state-level business audience with overlapping potential advertisers and subscribers.
• Crain's New York Business: Crain Communications' flagship New York City regional business publication. Comparable product structure (weekly print, digital, events, awards) though at much larger NYC scale; useful for understanding how the regional business journal model scales in a major metro.

Regional players

• Des Moines Register: Gannett-owned daily newspaper serving the same Des Moines/Central Iowa market as BPC. While a general-interest newspaper rather than a pure business publication, it covers overlapping local business news and competes for the same local advertising dollars and reader attention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/businessrecord
• Facebookfacebook.com/des-moines-business-record-87836120386
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/business-publications
• Instagraminstagram.com/businessrecord

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Business Publications Corporation, Inc