Check out the top 100 private Whatcom County companies, based on gross sales

Business Pulse, a Whatcom County-based magazine, published its annual list of the top 100 private companies in Whatcom County, recognizing local businesses that are based locally.

The bi-monthly magazine is published by the Whatcom Business Alliance, and ranks businesses across the county in various industries.

“In her publisher’s note — an introduction of the list along with feature stories at the front of the magazine — WBA Executive Director Barbara Chase called the Top 100 “a celebration of local businesses” that create thousands of jobs and drive billions in sales, with much of that reinvested back into Whatcom,” a news release from the magazine states.

The list is put together annually based on the gross sale figures from the past year.

“Behind the revenue figures are compelling stories — stories of leadership, hard-earned success and dedication to community,” the news release states.

“The 2025 Top 100 list reveals the breadth of industries fueling our economy — from agriculture to IT, banking to marine services, hospitality to retail — illustrating the rich diversity of Whatcom’s business landscape. These companies are more than employers; they’re community builders, problem-solvers and economic engines. The Top 100 honors those business leaders — and their teams — who dare to innovate, who meet challenges head-on, and who continue to hire, expand and contribute to the region’s prosperity. Encouragingly, the vast majority of this year’s top companies plan to bring on new additions in the coming months — a hopeful sign for job seekers and a strong indicator of sustained growth across the county.”

Here are the top 20 private companies that topped the list:

• Exxel Pacific
• Dawson Construction LLC
• Grizzly Industrial Inc
• Mt. Baker Imaging LLC
• Axiom Construction & Consulting LLC
• IMCO General Construction Inc
• Peoples Bank
• Faber Construction
• Samson Rope Technologies Inc
• Smith Gardens Inc
• Hempler Foods Group LLC
• The Markets LLC
• Haskell Corperation
• Superfeet Worldwide
• ProPack Inc
• Andgar Corporation
• Hardware Sales Inc
• Western Refinery Services Inc
• Mills Electric Co.
• Elements Hospitality

“Chase is quick to point out that the economic picture is much larger than this list of private companies. Significant contributors also include the companies at Cherry Point that operate under public companies or are not headquartered in Whatcom. Other employers, including Western Washington University and PeaceHealth, are among the largest county employers but fall outside the criteria for private ownership,” the news release states.

For the full list, visit Business Pulse Magazine’s online publication.