Democrat and Chronicle:
Despite the historic downturn in the overall economy, executives at 5Linx Enterprises Inc., the No. 3 company on the 2008 Top 100 list, expect to reach about $50 million in revenues this year. That’s twice what they did in 2007 and they plan to double it again in 2009.
The 5Linx trio of co-founders consider their Henrietta company recession-proof because their products are sold by independent agents who see it as an opportunity to earn extra income during difficult financial times. And the products themselves help customers save money during tough economic times.
“We’re actually doing very well in spite of what’s happening with the markets. Our business is accelerating,” said President Craig Jerabeck.
Jerabeck, of Pittsford, started 5Linx in 2001 with Jeb Tyler and Jason Guck and now has about 130 employees, up from about 110 a year ago.
The direct sales firm has about 30,000 agents who pay $499 for specialized training, a Web site and the right to sell the company’s products. 5Linx has some agents overseas, but the lion’s share are in the United States, said Tyler, the vice president for marketing who lives in Fairport.
The company’s top-selling product is a device and service that lets you use an Internet connection to make unlimited long-distance telephone calls for a one-time fee of $80, plus $24.95 per month.
Logo from 5LINX.