The three largest of those industries in Alaska are accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (368 establishments), dental practices (313), and plumbing and HVAC contractors (255). WETYR buys qualifying Alaska businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Alaska owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Alaska
Alaska ranks 46th in the country for accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms, with 368 establishments, or 0.3% of the U.S. total, against 0.2% of the U.S. population. The fifteen largest Alaska categories follow.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 368 | 50.1 | 1.23 | 46th |
| Dental practices | 313 | 42.6 | 1.04 | 45th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 255 | 34.7 | 1.05 | 50th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 235 | 32.0 | 1.60 | 45th |
| Electrical contractors | 230 | 31.3 | 1.28 | 50th |
| General auto repair shops | 204 | 27.8 | 1.10 | 50th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 201 | 27.4 | 0.78 | 50th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 197 | 26.8 | 2.29 | 46th |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 177 | 24.1 | 0.59 | 50th |
| Childcare centers | 173 | 23.5 | 0.99 | 50th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 168 | 22.9 | 1.53 | 46th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 126 | 17.1 | 0.59 | 50th |
| IT services and computer systems design | 78 | 10.6 | 0.63 | 47th |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 77 | 10.5 | 0.88 | 49th |
| Roofing contractors | 63 | 8.6 | 1.21 | 49th |
Where Alaska is over and under the national average
Per resident, Alaska runs heaviest in site preparation and excavation contractors (197 establishments, index 2.29, 46th nationally by count); commercial cleaning and janitorial services (235 establishments, index 1.60, 45th nationally by count); physical therapy clinics (168 establishments, index 1.53, 46th nationally by count). That top index of 2.29 means 129% more site preparation and excavation contractors per Alaska resident than the U.S. average. Concentration like that usually points to an established local operator base.
At the other end, Alaska is thinnest in pharmacies and drug stores (index 0.28) and pest control companies (index 0.37). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
Alaska counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | 1,647 | $95,731 | $363,800 |
| Matanuska Susitna Borough | 609 | $86,435 | $296,900 |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 526 | $81,655 | $276,800 |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 380 | $76,272 | $280,900 |
| Juneau City And Borough | 156 | $95,711 | $404,600 |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 50 | $82,763 | $361,000 |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 37 | $91,138 | $355,000 |
| Sitka City And Borough | 32 | $95,261 | $424,700 |
| Bethel Census Area | 13 | $64,094 | $120,600 |
| Chugach Census Area | 13 | $83,068 | $287,900 |
Anchorage Municipality, Matanuska Susitna Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough hold 79% of the 3,519 tracked establishments across 20 Alaska counties or areas. Median household income runs from $76,272 in Kenai Peninsula Borough to $95,731 in Anchorage Municipality (1.3x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
Alaska metro markets
Anchorage is the Alaska metro with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms and dental practices.
- Anchorage, about 300,950 residents (Anchorage County); nearest markets Elmendorf Afb (4 mi), Fort Richardson (8 mi)
Working with WETYR in Alaska
WETYR buys Alaska businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Alaska owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Alaska. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Alaska business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Alaska?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 3,519 establishments in Alaska across the 36 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 50th among the 50 states. With roughly 734,821 residents, that works out to 47.9 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Alaska holds 0.21% of the U.S. total in these industries and 0.22% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Alaska?
By establishment count the largest are accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (368), dental practices (313), and plumbing and HVAC contractors (255). Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms alone is 10.5% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Alaska is most concentrated in site preparation and excavation contractors, commercial cleaning and janitorial services and physical therapy clinics.
Does Alaska tax the gain when I sell my business?
Alaska has no state personal income tax, so an individual owner generally owes no state personal income tax on the gain from a sale. Entity-level state taxes, such as franchise or excise taxes, can still apply depending on how the business is organized, and federal capital gains and depreciation recapture apply as usual. Confirm the after-tax number with a Alaska CPA before you sign a letter of intent.
Where in Alaska are most of these businesses located?
Anchorage Municipality leads with about 1,647 tracked establishments, followed by Matanuska Susitna Borough (609) and Fairbanks North Star Borough (526). Together the top three hold 79% of the state total. Median household income in Anchorage Municipality is $95,731 and the median home value is $363,800. The smallest tracked area is Yukon Koyukuk Census Area with 3.
Sell by industry in Alaska
Other Pacific Northwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.