The three largest of those industries in Oregon are accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (2,132 establishments), dental practices (1,915), and landscaping and tree services (1,836). WETYR buys qualifying Oregon businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Oregon owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Oregon
Oregon ranks 19th in the country for accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms, with 2,132 establishments, or 1.6% of the U.S. total, against 1.3% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in Oregon.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 2,132 | 50.4 | 1.24 | 19th |
| Dental practices | 1,915 | 45.3 | 1.11 | 21st |
| Landscaping and tree services | 1,836 | 43.4 | 1.23 | 24th |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 1,681 | 39.7 | 0.98 | 29th |
| Childcare centers | 1,449 | 34.3 | 1.44 | 17th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,320 | 31.2 | 0.95 | 28th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 1,238 | 29.3 | 1.47 | 19th |
| General auto repair shops | 1,101 | 26.0 | 1.03 | 23rd |
| Electrical contractors | 993 | 23.5 | 0.96 | 28th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 826 | 19.5 | 1.66 | 19th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 657 | 15.5 | 1.04 | 26th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 654 | 15.5 | 0.53 | 38th |
| Veterinary practices | 553 | 13.1 | 1.32 | 23rd |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 524 | 12.4 | 1.04 | 25th |
| Roofing contractors | 509 | 12.0 | 1.70 | 13th |
Where Oregon is over and under the national average
Per resident, Oregon runs heaviest in flooring contractors (499 establishments, index 2.29, 10th nationally by count); roofing contractors (509 establishments, index 1.70, 13th nationally by count); site preparation and excavation contractors (826 establishments, index 1.66, 19th nationally by count). That top index of 2.29 means 129% more flooring contractors per Oregon resident than the U.S. average. Dense categories tend to have more local buyers at exit.
At the other end, Oregon is thinnest in local general freight trucking (index 0.47) and pharmacies and drug stores (index 0.53). A low index can mean an underserved market for a buyer building a platform, or simply that demand in Oregon is met from neighboring states.
Oregon counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County | 4,139 | $83,668 | $492,100 |
| Washington County | 3,478 | $100,121 | $504,300 |
| Clackamas County | 2,654 | $95,740 | $532,200 |
| Lane County | 1,927 | $65,157 | $363,800 |
| Marion County | 1,809 | $70,926 | $352,500 |
| Deschutes County | 1,621 | $82,042 | $526,200 |
| Jackson County | 1,228 | $67,690 | $369,500 |
| Linn County | 560 | $69,523 | $319,800 |
| Douglas County | 540 | $56,440 | $262,400 |
| Yamhill County | 512 | $80,125 | $408,500 |
Multnomah County, Washington County, Clackamas County hold 46% of the 22,315 tracked establishments across 35 Oregon counties or areas. Median household income runs from $45,462 in Harney County to $100,121 in Washington County (2.2x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
Oregon metro markets
Portland, Salem, Eugene and Gresham are the 4 Oregon metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms and dental practices.
- Portland, about 609,456 residents (Washington County); nearest markets Beaverton (7 mi), Lake Oswego (7 mi)
- Salem, about 160,614 residents (Polk County); nearest markets Aurora (23 mi), Corvallis (28 mi)
- Eugene, about 159,190 residents (Lane County); nearest markets Springfield (3 mi), Corvallis (36 mi)
- Gresham, about 109,397 residents (Multnomah County); nearest markets Portland (12 mi), Lake Oswego (13 mi)
Working with WETYR in Oregon
WETYR buys Oregon businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Oregon owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Oregon. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Oregon business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Oregon?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 22,315 establishments in Oregon across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 24th among the 50 states. With roughly 4,229,374 residents, that works out to 52.8 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Oregon holds 1.35% of the U.S. total in these industries and 1.28% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Oregon?
By establishment count the largest are accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (2,132), dental practices (1,915), and landscaping and tree services (1,836). Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms alone makes up 9.6% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Oregon is most concentrated in flooring contractors, roofing contractors and site preparation and excavation contractors.
Does Oregon tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Oregon 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 Oregon CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Oregon are most of these businesses located?
Multnomah County leads with about 4,139 tracked establishments, followed by Washington County (3,478) and Clackamas County (2,654). Together the top three hold 46% of the state total. Median household income in Multnomah County is $83,668 and the median home value is $492,100. The smallest tracked area is Gilliam County with 3.
Sell by industry in Oregon
Other Pacific Northwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.