Since 1963, we’ve celebrated the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners during National Small Business Week. In honor of National Small Business Week 2014, The Company Corporation recognizes ten companies that incorporated as small businesses and have since made a mark in American history.

1. 10 Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs
that Changed History

2. Since 1963, we’ve celebrated the critical
contributions of America’s entrepreneurs &
small business owners during National
Small Business Week.
@company_corp

3. We wanted to celebrate 10
companies that started as small
businesses and have since made a
mark in American history
@company_corp

4. Henry Ford, The Assembly Line &
Ford Motor Company
Founded: 1903
Fact: At a time when cars
sold for $1,000, Henry
Ford revolutionized the
industry by selling the
Model T for $345
State Incorporated:
Delaware

5. Walt Disney and
The Walt Disney Company
Founded: 1923
Fact: The Walt Disney
Company finished 2013
with approximately $45
billion in annual
revenue
State Incorporated:
Delaware

6. Dick & Mac McDonald Opened
The First McDonald’s
Founded: 1940
Fact: The first McDonald’s
started in San Bernardino,
CA and today the chain
serves 68 million customers
worldwide in 119 countries
State Incorporated:
Delaware

7. The First Dunkin Donuts
Opened in 1950
Founded: 1950
Fact: William Rosenberg was traveling
to factories selling food items. When
he noticed coffee & doughnuts were
the most popular products, he came
up with the idea for Dunkin Donuts
State Incorporated: Delaware

8. Warren Buffet, today the
CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Founded: 1839 (Warren became
CEO in 1962)
Fact: One of Warren’s first business
ventures was placing 3 pinball
machines throughout barbershops
in Maryland, collecting money
every week
State Incorporated: Delaware

9. Philip Knight Began Selling Nike Shoes at
Track Meets Across the Pacific Northwest
Founded: 1964
Fact: Originally called
Blue Ribbon Sports, the
name officially became
Nike in 1971
State Incorporated:
Oregon

10. The first Subway was called
Pete’s Subway
Founded: 1965
Fact: Fred De Luca borrowed $1,000
from Peter Buck, a family friend, to
open the first sub shop. Subway is the
largest restaurant chain in the world
with over 37,000 locations.
State Incorporated: Florida

11. Wayne Huizenga – Founded 3 Fortune
500 Companies
Year Founded: 1971, 1981, 1985
Fact: Huizenga took part in
founding Waste Management,
AutoNation & Blockbuster Video.
One by one, he started and grew
each of them into Fortune 500
companies.
State Incorporated: Delaware,
Florida and Texas

12. First Starbucks opened in 1971
in Seattle, Washington
Founded: 1971
Fact: Starbucks is the largest coffee
company in the world with 20,891
stores in 64 countries
State Incorporated: Washington

13. Chipotle was Founded in 1993
Founded: 1993
Fact: Today Chipotle has 37,310
employees and 1,539 locations
State Incorporated: Delaware

14. As big as these businesses became…
@company_corp

15. …let’s remember where they started.
@company_corp

16. We want to thank all small business owners
and entrepreneurs for their hard work &
contributions toward America’s progress.
@company_corp

17. Sources
• http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/hall_of_fame/henry_ford
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company
• http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/quote-of-the-day-walt-disney-on-nature.html
• http://iliketowastemytime.com/2012/07/06/22-rare-historical-photos
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_and_Maurice_McDonald
• http://www.panoramio.com/photo/35369555
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkin'_Donuts
• http://www.nba.com/video/channels/hall_of_fame/2012/09/07/20120907_hof_philknight_feature.nba/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Knight
• http://www.biography.com/people/warren-buffett-9230729#early-life&awesm=~oBCgjeB0xCug3a
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett
• http://www.businessinsider.com/what-successful-people-did-in-their-20s-2013-3?op=1
• http://www.subway.com/subwayroot/about_us/history.aspx
• http://webpage.pace.edu/kl30186n/Starbucks%20Project/Overview%20-%20Page%202.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Huizenga
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_Management,_Inc.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoNation
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockbuster_Video
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipotle_Mexican_Grill
• http://www.wysk.com/