The three largest of those industries in Michigan are dental practices (3,799 establishments), landscaping and tree services (3,685), and insurance agencies and brokerages (3,674). WETYR buys qualifying Michigan businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Michigan owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Michigan
Michigan ranks 9th in the country for dental practices, with 3,799 establishments, or 2.8% of the U.S. total, against 3.0% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in Michigan.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental practices | 3,799 | 37.8 | 0.93 | 9th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 3,685 | 36.6 | 1.04 | 11th |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 3,674 | 36.5 | 0.90 | 10th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 3,423 | 34.0 | 0.84 | 12th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 3,187 | 31.7 | 1.09 | 11th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 2,646 | 26.3 | 0.80 | 13th |
| General auto repair shops | 2,518 | 25.0 | 0.99 | 9th |
| Childcare centers | 2,023 | 20.1 | 0.84 | 13th |
| Electrical contractors | 1,900 | 18.9 | 0.77 | 14th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 1,661 | 16.5 | 0.83 | 14th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 1,627 | 16.2 | 1.30 | 7th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 1,605 | 16.0 | 1.07 | 8th |
| Local general freight trucking | 1,569 | 15.6 | 1.17 | 8th |
| Home health care agencies | 1,424 | 14.2 | 1.24 | 7th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 1,135 | 11.3 | 0.96 | 10th |
Where Michigan is over and under the national average
Per resident, Michigan runs heaviest in plate work and fabricated metal shops (67 establishments, index 2.50, 5th nationally by count); machine shops (898 establishments, index 1.82, 5th nationally by count); pharmacies and drug stores (1,627 establishments, index 1.30, 7th nationally by count). That top index of 2.50 means 150% more plate work and fabricated metal shops per Michigan resident than the U.S. average. More local operators usually means more comparable sales to price against.
At the other end, Michigan is thinnest in pest control companies (index 0.49) and self-storage facilities (index 0.55). For an acquirer, an underweight category is worth a second look: scarcity can support pricing, but it also narrows the local buyer pool at exit.
Michigan counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | 8,083 | $92,620 | $302,800 |
| Wayne County | 7,121 | $57,223 | $158,600 |
| Macomb County | 4,497 | $73,876 | $216,200 |
| Kent County | 3,347 | $76,247 | $242,200 |
| Genesee County | 1,681 | $58,594 | $158,400 |
| Washtenaw County | 1,613 | $84,245 | $336,300 |
| Ottawa County | 1,332 | $83,932 | $269,200 |
| Ingham County | 1,191 | $62,548 | $173,600 |
| Kalamazoo County | 1,175 | $67,905 | $209,700 |
| Livingston County | 1,061 | $96,135 | $311,800 |
Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County hold 43% of the 46,148 tracked establishments across 82 Michigan counties or areas. Median household income runs from $46,224 in Iosco County to $96,135 in Livingston County (2.1x), so the county you serve moves the valuation inputs.
Michigan metro markets
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Ann Arbor and Lansing are the 5 Michigan metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for dental practices and landscaping and tree services.
- Detroit, about 688,701 residents (Wayne County); nearest markets Dearborn (7 mi), Warren (13 mi)
- Grand Rapids, about 192,294 residents (Kent County); nearest markets Muskegon (35 mi), Kalamazoo (47 mi)
- Warren, about 134,873 residents (Macomb County); nearest markets Troy (9 mi), Southfield (11 mi)
- Ann Arbor, about 117,025 residents (Washtenaw County); nearest markets Livonia (21 mi), Farmington (23 mi)
- Lansing, about 113,972 residents (Ingham County); nearest markets Flint (48 mi), Ann Arbor (52 mi)
Working with WETYR in Michigan
WETYR buys Michigan businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Michigan owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Michigan. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Michigan business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Michigan?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 46,148 establishments in Michigan across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 11th among the 50 states. With roughly 10,057,921 residents, that works out to 45.9 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Michigan holds 2.79% of the U.S. total in these industries and 3.04% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Michigan?
By establishment count the largest are dental practices (3,799), landscaping and tree services (3,685), and insurance agencies and brokerages (3,674). Dental practices alone makes up 8.2% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Michigan is most concentrated in plate work and fabricated metal shops, machine shops and pharmacies and drug stores.
Does Michigan tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Michigan 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 Michigan CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Michigan are most of these businesses located?
Oakland County leads with about 8,083 tracked establishments, followed by Wayne County (7,121) and Macomb County (4,497). Together the top three hold 43% of the state total. Median household income in Oakland County is $92,620 and the median home value is $302,800. The smallest tracked area is Oscoda County with 13.
Sell by industry in Michigan
Other Midwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.