TheBig Three orMBB refers tomanagement consulting firmsMcKinsey & Company,Boston Consulting Group, andBain & Company. Widely considered the most prestigiousstrategy consulting firms in the world, the three companies are distinguished by the depth and rigor of their analyses and recommendations, rich histories of service dating back to their foundings in the mid-20th century, and strong client bases spanning some of the world's largest and more important companies.[1]
Known for their highly selective and competitive recruiting process, the MBB firms hire a large portion of their consultants from prestigious undergraduate universities and MBA programs around the world, supplementing them with more senior industry hires with deep expertise in specific sectors served by the firms.[2] While continuing to maintain a focus on the strategy consulting work for which they originally rose to prominence, the MBB firms have expanded their portfolio of offerings over the years to include consulting services such as operating model design, performance improvement, M&A diligence, human capital, and digital / AI transformation.
Praised by many for the impactful results they have achieved with their clients, the MBB firms have also been the subject of criticism over the years for alleged unethical activities, with a prominent example being McKinsey's role in helpingPurdue Pharma "turbo-charge" its sales of OxyContin, which has been cited as a direct contributor to theopioid epidemic in the United States.[3]
McKinsey & Company,Boston Consulting Group, andBain & Company, collectively referred to as "MBB", are widely considered the three top and most prestigiousstrategy consulting firms in the world. Jobs at these firms are among the most sought after byMBA students and have a less than 1% acceptance rate.[4]
These three firms are among the world's largest strategyconsulting firms byrevenue. Their latest publicly available data is summarized in the table below:[5]
| Firm | Employees (year) | Revenue (year) | Revenue per Employee | Locations (cities) | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey & Company | 40,000 (2023)[6] | $16 B (2023)[7] | $355 K | 133[8] | New York[8] |
| Boston Consulting Group | 33,000 (2024)[9] | $13.5 B (2024)[9] | $410 K | 100+[10] | Boston |
| Bain & Company | 15,000 (2022)[11] | $5.8 B (2021)[12] | $387 K | 65[13] | Boston |
McKinsey & Company was founded inChicago byJames O. McKinsey in 1926. The firm has grown significantly since then, establishing 104 offices located in 60 countries as of 2014.[14]
BCG was founded in 1963 byBruce D. Henderson, a formerArthur D. Little consultant and aVanderbilt University andHarvard Business School alumnus.[15] Starting out with only two consultants, the firm quickly grew. As of 2021, it employs 25,000 people in over 90 offices in more than 50 countries.[16][17]
Bain & Company was founded byBill Bain in 1973 after leaving BCG. The firm pioneeredprivate equity consulting and the fundBain Capital was founded by partners from Bain & Company and led byMitt Romney. According to the company's website in 2017, it had 65 offices in 40 countries.[18]Bridgespan, a non-profit consultancy, was spun out of Bain in the early 2000s by three former Bain employees.[19] Bain is widely known for its culture and was ranked #1 on Glassdoor's "Best Places to Work" list for 2025, a ranking it has frequently achieved since the list was first published.[20]
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