The three largest of those industries in Kansas are insurance agencies and brokerages (1,935 establishments), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (1,136), and plumbing and HVAC contractors (974). WETYR buys qualifying Kansas businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Kansas owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Kansas
Kansas ranks 26th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 1,935 establishments, or $7,000 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 0.9% of the U.S. population. The fifteen largest Kansas categories follow.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 1,935 | 65.9 | 1.63 | 26th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 1,136 | 38.7 | 0.95 | 32nd |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 974 | 33.2 | 1.01 | 33rd |
| Dental practices | 968 | 33.0 | 0.81 | 33rd |
| Landscaping and tree services | 918 | 31.3 | 0.89 | 35th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 806 | 27.5 | 0.94 | 33rd |
| General auto repair shops | 767 | 26.1 | 1.04 | 31st |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 618 | 21.0 | 1.05 | 31st |
| Electrical contractors | 613 | 20.9 | 0.85 | 38th |
| Childcare centers | 516 | 17.6 | 0.74 | 36th |
| Veterinary practices | 422 | 14.4 | 1.46 | 29th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 421 | 14.3 | 0.96 | 35th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 397 | 13.5 | 1.15 | 37th |
| IT services and computer systems design | 373 | 12.7 | 0.75 | 30th |
| Staffing agencies | 304 | 10.4 | 1.02 | 31st |
Where Kansas is over and under the national average
Per resident, Kansas runs heaviest in insurance agencies and brokerages (1,935 establishments, index 1.63, 26th nationally by count); veterinary practices (422 establishments, index 1.46, 29th nationally by count); optometry practices (251 establishments, index 1.32, 28th nationally by count). That top index of 1.63 means 63% more insurance agencies and brokerages per Kansas resident than the U.S. average. More local operators usually means more comparable sales to price against.
At the other end, Kansas is thinnest in laundromats and drycleaners (index 0.43) and security guard and patrol companies (index 0.53). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
Kansas counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 3,900 | $103,644 | $343,300 |
| Sedgwick County | 2,553 | $65,372 | $175,700 |
| Shawnee County | 865 | $63,463 | $159,900 |
| Wyandotte County | 667 | $57,771 | $139,800 |
| Douglas County | 514 | $66,153 | $259,500 |
| Leavenworth County | 328 | $84,307 | $240,800 |
| Reno County | 313 | $57,390 | $119,200 |
| Butler County | 293 | $77,724 | $181,700 |
| Saline County | 282 | $59,887 | $161,900 |
| Riley County | 275 | $56,327 | $231,000 |
Johnson County, Sedgwick County, Shawnee County hold 52% of the 14,118 tracked establishments across 98 Kansas counties or areas. Median household income runs from $49,779 in Crawford County to $103,644 in Johnson County (2.1x), which changes what a buyer underwrites.
Kansas metro markets
Wichita, Kansas City, Olathe and Topeka are the 4 Kansas metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms.
- Wichita, about 386,552 residents (Sedgwick County); nearest markets Hutchinson (41 mi), Ponca City (70 mi)
- Kansas City, about 148,483 residents (Wyandotte County); nearest markets Kansas City (3 mi), Independence (11 mi)
- Olathe, about 131,885 residents (Johnson County); nearest markets Shawnee Mission (6 mi), Kansas City (19 mi)
- Topeka, about 127,679 residents (Shawnee County); nearest markets Lawrence (25 mi), Baldwin City (31 mi)
Working with WETYR in Kansas
WETYR buys Kansas businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Kansas owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Kansas. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Kansas business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Kansas?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 14,118 establishments in Kansas across the 35 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 33rd among the 50 states. With roughly 2,935,922 residents, that works out to 48.1 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Kansas holds 0.85% of the U.S. total in these industries and 0.89% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Kansas?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (1,935), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (1,136), and plumbing and HVAC contractors (974). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone is $68,500 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Kansas is most concentrated in insurance agencies and brokerages, veterinary practices and optometry practices.
Does Kansas tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Kansas 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 Kansas CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Kansas are most of these businesses located?
Johnson County leads with about 3,900 tracked establishments, followed by Sedgwick County (2,553) and Shawnee County (865). Together the top three hold 52% of the state total. Median household income in Johnson County is $103,644 and the median home value is $343,300. The smallest tracked area is Woodson County with 3.
Sell by industry in Kansas
Other Great Plains states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.