The three largest of those industries in Minnesota are insurance agencies and brokerages (3,155 establishments), landscaping and tree services (2,348), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (2,076). WETYR buys qualifying Minnesota businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Minnesota owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Minnesota
Minnesota ranks 13th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 3,155 establishments, or $12,000 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 1.7% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in Minnesota.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 3,155 | 55.4 | 1.37 | 13th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 2,348 | 41.2 | 1.17 | 18th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 2,076 | 36.5 | 0.90 | 20th |
| Dental practices | 1,861 | 32.7 | 0.80 | 22nd |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 1,855 | 32.6 | 1.12 | 19th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,807 | 31.7 | 0.96 | 21st |
| General auto repair shops | 1,751 | 30.7 | 1.22 | 16th |
| Electrical contractors | 1,553 | 27.3 | 1.11 | 17th |
| Childcare centers | 1,403 | 24.6 | 1.03 | 19th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 1,333 | 23.4 | 1.17 | 17th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 941 | 16.5 | 1.41 | 15th |
| Home health care agencies | 918 | 16.1 | 1.41 | 14th |
| Local general freight trucking | 893 | 15.7 | 1.17 | 13th |
| IT services and computer systems design | 893 | 15.7 | 0.93 | 18th |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 728 | 12.8 | 1.07 | 18th |
Where Minnesota is over and under the national average
Per resident, Minnesota runs heaviest in machine shops (495 establishments, index 1.77, 10th nationally by count); flooring contractors (439 establishments, index 1.50, 13th nationally by count); site preparation and excavation contractors (941 establishments, index 1.41, 15th nationally by count). That top index of 1.77 means 77% more machine shops per Minnesota resident than the U.S. average. A buyer pricing a Minnesota deal in that category has real comparables to work from.
At the other end, Minnesota is thinnest in pest control companies (index 0.28) and laundromats and drycleaners (index 0.38). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
Minnesota counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 7,155 | $92,595 | $358,000 |
| Ramsey County | 2,360 | $78,108 | $289,300 |
| Dakota County | 2,277 | $101,360 | $341,200 |
| Anoka County | 2,026 | $95,782 | $302,300 |
| Washington County | 1,388 | $110,828 | $379,300 |
| St Louis County | 1,003 | $66,491 | $192,900 |
| Stearns County | 906 | $73,105 | $241,100 |
| Wright County | 876 | $102,980 | $310,900 |
| Scott County | 860 | $118,268 | $376,000 |
| Olmsted County | 730 | $90,420 | $285,600 |
Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County hold 40% of the 29,736 tracked establishments across 87 Minnesota counties or areas. Median household income runs from $54,747 in Wadena County to $118,268 in Scott County (2.2x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
Minnesota metro markets
Minneapolis and Rochester are the 2 Minnesota metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and landscaping and tree services.
- Minneapolis, about 400,070 residents (Hennepin County); nearest markets Saint Paul (10 mi), Eden Prairie (13 mi)
- Rochester, about 110,742 residents (Olmsted County); nearest markets La Crosse (63 mi), Saint Paul (69 mi)
Working with WETYR in Minnesota
WETYR buys Minnesota businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Minnesota owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Minnesota. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Minnesota business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Minnesota?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 29,736 establishments in Minnesota across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 20th among the 50 states. With roughly 5,695,292 residents, that works out to 52.2 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Minnesota holds 1.80% of the U.S. total in these industries and 1.72% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Minnesota?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (3,155), landscaping and tree services (2,348), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (2,076). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone is $53,000 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Minnesota is most concentrated in machine shops, flooring contractors and site preparation and excavation contractors.
Does Minnesota tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Minnesota 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 Minnesota CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Minnesota are most of these businesses located?
Hennepin County leads with about 7,155 tracked establishments, followed by Ramsey County (2,360) and Dakota County (2,277). Together the top three hold 40% of the state total. Median household income in Hennepin County is $92,595 and the median home value is $358,000. The smallest tracked area is Red Lake County with 6.
Sell by industry in Minnesota
Other Upper Midwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.