The three largest of those industries in Arkansas are insurance agencies and brokerages (1,527 establishments), gas stations with convenience stores (1,281), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (1,112). WETYR buys qualifying Arkansas businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Arkansas owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Arkansas
Arkansas ranks 33rd in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 1,527 establishments, or $5,500 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 0.9% of the U.S. population. Here is how the top fifteen stack up in Arkansas.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 1,527 | 50.6 | 1.25 | 33rd |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 1,281 | 42.4 | 1.46 | 28th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 1,112 | 36.8 | 0.90 | 33rd |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,066 | 35.3 | 1.07 | 32nd |
| Dental practices | 894 | 29.6 | 0.73 | 35th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 721 | 23.9 | 1.60 | 20th |
| Electrical contractors | 710 | 23.5 | 0.96 | 33rd |
| Landscaping and tree services | 706 | 23.4 | 0.66 | 39th |
| Childcare centers | 662 | 21.9 | 0.92 | 35th |
| General auto repair shops | 556 | 18.4 | 0.73 | 37th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 462 | 15.3 | 1.23 | 28th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 428 | 14.2 | 0.71 | 37th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 424 | 14.0 | 1.20 | 35th |
| Veterinary practices | 303 | 10.0 | 1.02 | 32nd |
| Home health care agencies | 236 | 7.8 | 0.68 | 34th |
Where Arkansas is over and under the national average
Per resident, Arkansas runs heaviest in physical therapy clinics (721 establishments, index 1.60, 20th nationally by count); gas stations with convenience stores (1,281 establishments, index 1.46, 28th nationally by count); insurance agencies and brokerages (1,527 establishments, index 1.25, 33rd nationally by count). That top index of 1.60 means 60% more physical therapy clinics per Arkansas resident than the U.S. average. A buyer pricing an Arkansas deal in that category has real comparables to work from.
At the other end, Arkansas is thinnest in laundromats and drycleaners (index 0.28) and IT services and computer systems design (index 0.34). A low index can mean an underserved market for a buyer building a platform, or simply that demand in Arkansas is met from neighboring states.
Arkansas counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 2,375 | $58,326 | $187,600 |
| Benton County | 1,431 | $85,269 | $254,000 |
| Washington County | 1,231 | $61,985 | $235,500 |
| Sebastian County | 702 | $54,047 | $154,900 |
| Faulkner County | 674 | $61,273 | $195,800 |
| Saline County | 637 | $73,236 | $194,400 |
| Garland County | 631 | $54,229 | $166,600 |
| Craighead County | 610 | $55,169 | $182,600 |
| Pope County | 360 | $51,678 | $152,000 |
| White County | 352 | $51,144 | $150,700 |
Pulaski County, Benton County, Washington County hold 37% of the 13,614 tracked establishments across 75 Arkansas counties or areas. Median household income runs from $36,593 in Chicot County to $85,269 in Benton County (2.3x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
Arkansas metro markets
Little Rock is the Arkansas metro with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and gas stations with convenience stores.
- Little Rock, about 197,357 residents (Pulaski County); nearest markets North Little Rock (2 mi), Benton (21 mi)
Working with WETYR in Arkansas
WETYR buys Arkansas businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Arkansas owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Arkansas. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Arkansas business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Arkansas?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 13,614 establishments in Arkansas across the 36 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 34th among the 50 states. With roughly 3,018,669 residents, that works out to 45.1 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Arkansas holds 0.82% of the U.S. total in these industries and 0.91% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Arkansas?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (1,527), gas stations with convenience stores (1,281), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (1,112). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone is $56,000 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Arkansas is most concentrated in physical therapy clinics, gas stations with convenience stores and insurance agencies and brokerages.
Does Arkansas tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Arkansas taxes personal income, so the gain on a sale is generally subject to state tax in addition to federal tax. How much depends on structure: asset versus stock sale, how the purchase price is allocated, and whether part is paid over time. Model the after-tax number with a Arkansas CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Arkansas are most of these businesses located?
Pulaski County leads with about 2,375 tracked establishments, followed by Benton County (1,431) and Washington County (1,231). Together the top three hold 37% of the state total. Median household income in Pulaski County is $58,326 and the median home value is $187,600. The smallest tracked area is Lee County with 3.
Sell by industry in Arkansas
Other South Central states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.