The three largest of those industries in New York are accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (9,011 establishments), dental practices (8,090), and landscaping and tree services (7,704). WETYR buys qualifying New York businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces New York 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 York
New York ranks 4th in the country for accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms, with 9,011 establishments, or 6.7% of the U.S. total, against 6.1% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in New York.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 9,011 | 45.1 | 1.11 | 4th |
| Dental practices | 8,090 | 40.5 | 0.99 | 4th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 7,704 | 38.5 | 1.09 | 3rd |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 7,086 | 35.4 | 1.08 | 4th |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 6,396 | 32.0 | 0.79 | 4th |
| Childcare centers | 6,201 | 31.0 | 1.30 | 2nd |
| General auto repair shops | 5,344 | 26.7 | 1.06 | 3rd |
| Electrical contractors | 5,256 | 26.3 | 1.07 | 4th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 4,294 | 21.5 | 1.72 | 2nd |
| Physical therapy clinics | 3,867 | 19.3 | 1.29 | 3rd |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 3,716 | 18.6 | 0.93 | 4th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 3,659 | 18.3 | 0.63 | 6th |
| IT services and computer systems design | 3,199 | 16.0 | 0.95 | 5th |
| Medical spas and other personal care | 2,598 | 13.0 | 1.48 | 3rd |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 2,505 | 12.5 | 1.05 | 4th |
Where New York is over and under the national average
Per resident, New York runs heaviest in laundromats and drycleaners (2,218 establishments, index 3.78, 1st nationally by count); advertising and marketing agencies (1,503 establishments, index 1.76, 2nd nationally by count); pharmacies and drug stores (4,294 establishments, index 1.72, 2nd nationally by count). That top index of 3.78 means 278% more laundromats and drycleaners per New York resident than the U.S. average. Dense categories tend to have more local buyers at exit.
At the other end, New York is thinnest in plate work and fabricated metal shops (index 0.51) and roofing contractors (index 0.57). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
New York counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | 12,016 | $122,498 | $490,800 |
| Nassau County | 10,726 | $137,709 | $633,800 |
| Kings County | 10,363 | $74,692 | $865,300 |
| Queens County | 10,185 | $82,431 | $677,700 |
| New York County | 9,358 | $99,880 | $1,104,000 |
| Westchester County | 6,673 | $114,651 | $619,000 |
| Erie County | 4,562 | $68,014 | $197,400 |
| Monroe County | 3,573 | $71,450 | $182,700 |
| Bronx County | 3,544 | $47,036 | $501,400 |
| Rockland County | 2,398 | $106,173 | $528,900 |
Suffolk County, Nassau County, Kings County hold 33% of the 100,737 tracked establishments across 62 New York counties or areas. Median household income runs from $47,036 in Bronx County to $137,709 in Nassau County (2.9x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
New York metro markets
New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers and Syracuse are the 5 New York metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms and dental practices.
- New York, about 8,405,837 residents (New york County); nearest markets Brooklyn (2 mi), Jersey City (4 mi)
- Buffalo, about 258,959 residents (Erie County); nearest markets Rochester (67 mi), Erie (81 mi)
- Rochester, about 210,358 residents (Monroe County); nearest markets Buffalo (67 mi), Syracuse (74 mi)
- Yonkers, about 199,766 residents (Westchester County); nearest markets Mount Vernon (3 mi), Bronx (8 mi)
- Syracuse, about 144,669 residents (Onondaga County); nearest markets Rochester (74 mi), Schenectady (113 mi)
Working with WETYR in New York
WETYR buys New York businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces New York owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in New York. 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 York business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in New York?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 100,737 establishments in New York across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 4th among the 50 states. With roughly 19,994,379 residents, that works out to 50.4 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. New York holds 6.08% of the U.S. total in these industries and 6.05% of the population.
Which industries are most common in New York?
By establishment count the largest are accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (9,011), dental practices (8,090), and landscaping and tree services (7,704). Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms alone makes up 8.9% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, New York is most concentrated in laundromats and drycleaners, advertising and marketing agencies and pharmacies and drug stores.
Does New York tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. New York 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 York CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in New York are most of these businesses located?
Suffolk County leads with about 12,016 tracked establishments, followed by Nassau County (10,726) and Kings County (10,363). Together the top three hold 33% of the state total. Median household income in Suffolk County is $122,498 and the median home value is $490,800. The smallest tracked area is Hamilton County with 14.
Sell by industry in New York
Other Northeast states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.