Back-to-Back Recognition Cements Green Leaf as the Cannabis Industry’s No. 1 Partner for Payroll and HR, Powering Compliant, Sustainable Growth for Operators Nationwide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Vista, Calif., August 13 2026 – Green Leaf Business Solutions, the cannabis industry’s leading partner in payroll and human resources, today announced it has been named on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, the annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s most successful independent and entrepreneurial businesses, recognizing companies that have achieved remarkable growth while driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the economy.
“Ranking among the fastest-growing private companies in America two years in a row tells me we’re building something that matters,” said Marc Rodriguez, Co-Founder and CEO of Green Leaf Business Solutions. “But the number I’m proudest of is the thousands of cannabis workers who now get paid correctly and on time, with real benefits, because an operator trusted us to have their back.”
Green Leaf’s growth reflects the tools it has built to help cannabis operators run like any other mature industry. Through its Managed Payroll and Managed HR services, the company gives operators dedicated specialists, compliant infrastructure, and the strategic guidance that mainstream providers have long withheld from the sector, turning payroll and human resources from operational burdens into competitive advantages. Green Leaf was also among the first to close one of the industry’s most stubborn gaps with GreenPath 401(k), a fully vetted, transparent Pooled Employer Plan that gives cannabis businesses of every size access to institutional-grade retirement benefits after most traditional custodians abandoned the market. Together, these solutions help operators attract and retain talent, satisfy investors and lenders, and take real steps toward operating with the same professionalism as any traditional business.
“We built Green Leaf for the businesses everyone else called too risky to serve, and every year on this list is proof of one thing: when you bet on people and refuse to cut corners, growth takes care of itself,” Rodriguez added. “To our team and our clients, this ranking is yours, and we’re just getting warmed up.”
This year’s Inc. 5000 recognizes a new class of companies redefining what growth looks like. From AI and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, consumer products, and professional services, these businesses are expanding their impact, creating jobs and proving that entrepreneurial ambition continues to fuel the U.S. economy.
For the full Inc. 5000 list, please visit: www.inc.com/inc5000.
“Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision making, and a refusal to sit still,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Their growth reflects more than strong financial performance–it reflects creativity, resilience, and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact. We congratulate all honorees on this significant achievement.”
Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent, not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies, as of December 31, 2025. The minimum revenue required for 2022 is $100,000; the minimum for 2025 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.
To learn more about Green Leaf Business Solutions, visit: greenleafbizsolutions.com
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About Green Leaf Business Solutions
Green Leaf Payroll & Business Solutions Inc. is the cannabis industry’s premier partner in human resources and payroll. Guided by the motto Partner, Not Provider, Green Leaf goes beyond transactional services by educating clients from the ground up to ensure compliance and support sustainable growth. Founded in 2018 and based in Vista, California, the company serves clients in all 50 states with a deep network of resources and a cross-trained team spanning banking, HR, and payroll specialties, delivering scalable, tailored solutions that empower small to mid-sized cannabis businesses to thrive. A two-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies (2025 and 2026), named to Cannabis Business Times’ 2026 “Best Cannabis Companies to Work For” list, and recognized by Inc. as one of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Pacific, Green Leaf stands as both the most trusted partner and the leading innovator in cannabis HR and payroll. To learn more, visit greenleafbizsolutions.com.
About Inc.
Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
