The three largest of those industries in New Mexico are insurance agencies and brokerages (748 establishments), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (744), and gas stations with convenience stores (711). WETYR buys qualifying New Mexico businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces New Mexico owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in New Mexico
New Mexico ranks 38th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 748 establishments, or $3,000 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 0.6% of the U.S. population. Here is how the top fifteen stack up in New Mexico.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 748 | 35.4 | 0.87 | 38th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 744 | 35.2 | 0.87 | 37th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 711 | 33.7 | 1.16 | 36th |
| Dental practices | 710 | 33.6 | 0.82 | 38th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 662 | 31.3 | 0.95 | 41st |
| Electrical contractors | 586 | 27.7 | 1.13 | 39th |
| General auto repair shops | 465 | 22.0 | 0.87 | 41st |
| Childcare centers | 432 | 20.5 | 0.86 | 40th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 394 | 18.7 | 0.53 | 44th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 316 | 15.0 | 0.75 | 41st |
| Physical therapy clinics | 297 | 14.1 | 0.94 | 38th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 207 | 9.8 | 0.84 | 44th |
| Home health care agencies | 207 | 9.8 | 0.86 | 35th |
| Veterinary practices | 200 | 9.5 | 0.96 | 40th |
| Roofing contractors | 191 | 9.0 | 1.28 | 34th |
Where New Mexico is over and under the national average
Per resident, New Mexico runs heaviest in septic and drainage services (39 establishments, index 2.26, 25th nationally by count); self-storage facilities (173 establishments, index 1.57, 28th nationally by count); roofing contractors (191 establishments, index 1.28, 34th nationally by count). That top index of 2.26 means 126% more septic and drainage services per New Mexico resident than the U.S. average. Dense categories tend to have more local buyers at exit.
At the other end, New Mexico is thinnest in advertising and marketing agencies (index 0.28) and pool, building and dwelling services (index 0.36). A low index can mean an underserved market for a buyer building a platform, or simply that demand in New Mexico is met from neighboring states.
New Mexico counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | 3,439 | $62,220 | $247,300 |
| Santa Fe County | 845 | $70,522 | $374,200 |
| Do A Ana County | 788 | $51,232 | $187,400 |
| San Juan County | 504 | $50,734 | $170,700 |
| Sandoval County | 471 | $76,424 | $258,100 |
| Lea County | 301 | $65,855 | $162,000 |
| Eddy County | 290 | $77,458 | $188,400 |
| Chaves County | 259 | $49,673 | $133,200 |
| Valencia County | 231 | $56,246 | $184,400 |
| Curry County | 208 | $55,427 | $151,300 |
Bernalillo County, Santa Fe County, Do A Ana County hold 58% of the 8,710 tracked establishments across 31 New Mexico counties or areas. Median household income runs from $35,256 in Sierra County to $135,801 in Los Alamos County (3.9x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
New Mexico metro markets
Albuquerque is the New Mexico metro with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms.
- Albuquerque, about 556,495 residents (Bernalillo County); nearest markets Rio Rancho (11 mi), Santa Fe (56 mi)
Working with WETYR in New Mexico
WETYR buys New Mexico businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces New Mexico owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in New Mexico. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
New Mexico business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in New Mexico?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 8,710 establishments in New Mexico across the 36 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 40th among the 50 states. With roughly 2,112,463 residents, that works out to 41.2 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. New Mexico holds 0.53% of the U.S. total in these industries and 0.64% of the population.
Which industries are most common in New Mexico?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (748), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (744), and gas stations with convenience stores (711). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone makes up $43,000 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, New Mexico is most concentrated in septic and drainage services, self-storage facilities and roofing contractors.
Does New Mexico tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. New Mexico 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 New Mexico CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in New Mexico are most of these businesses located?
Bernalillo County leads with about 3,439 tracked establishments, followed by Santa Fe County (845) and Do A Ana County (788). Together the top three hold 58% of the state total. Median household income in Bernalillo County is $62,220 and the median home value is $247,300. The smallest tracked area is Hidalgo County with 6.
Sell by industry in New Mexico
Other Southwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.