The three largest of those industries in South Dakota are insurance agencies and brokerages (697 establishments), gas stations with convenience stores (460), and general auto repair shops (355). WETYR buys qualifying South Dakota businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces South Dakota owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in South Dakota
South Dakota ranks 39th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 697 establishments, or $2,500 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 0.3% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in South Dakota.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 697 | 78.3 | 1.93 | 39th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 460 | 51.7 | 1.78 | 42nd |
| General auto repair shops | 355 | 39.9 | 1.58 | 43rd |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 348 | 39.1 | 1.19 | 45th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 336 | 37.7 | 1.07 | 47th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 310 | 34.8 | 0.86 | 48th |
| Electrical contractors | 298 | 33.5 | 1.37 | 46th |
| Dental practices | 289 | 32.5 | 0.80 | 46th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 234 | 26.3 | 1.32 | 47th |
| Childcare centers | 234 | 26.3 | 1.10 | 49th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 187 | 21.0 | 1.79 | 47th |
| Local general freight trucking | 113 | 12.7 | 0.95 | 42nd |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 107 | 12.0 | 1.01 | 44th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 101 | 11.3 | 0.76 | 50th |
| Veterinary practices | 100 | 11.2 | 1.14 | 45th |
Where South Dakota is over and under the national average
Per resident, South Dakota runs heaviest in insurance agencies and brokerages (697 establishments, index 1.93, 39th nationally by count); site preparation and excavation contractors (187 establishments, index 1.79, 47th nationally by count); gas stations with convenience stores (460 establishments, index 1.78, 42nd nationally by count). That top index of 1.93 means 93% more insurance agencies and brokerages per South Dakota resident than the U.S. average. A buyer pricing a South Dakota deal in that category has real comparables to work from.
At the other end, South Dakota is thinnest in pool, building and dwelling services (index 0.29) and home health care agencies (index 0.32). A low index can mean an underserved market for a buyer building a platform, or simply that demand in South Dakota is met from neighboring states.
South Dakota counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnehaha County | 1,181 | $73,110 | $246,200 |
| Pennington County | 787 | $67,823 | $247,800 |
| Lincoln County | 490 | $92,317 | $292,200 |
| Brown County | 248 | $70,379 | $200,400 |
| Codington County | 233 | $65,747 | $206,600 |
| Lawrence County | 207 | $62,977 | $267,900 |
| Brookings County | 173 | $64,438 | $227,800 |
| Meade County | 158 | $70,256 | $252,300 |
| Davison County | 126 | $55,606 | $178,100 |
| Yankton County | 123 | $68,847 | $190,400 |
Minnehaha County, Pennington County, Lincoln County hold 50% of the 4,964 tracked establishments across 56 South Dakota counties or areas. Median household income runs from $48,272 in Gregory County to $92,317 in Lincoln County (1.9x), which changes what a buyer underwrites.
South Dakota metro markets
Sioux Falls is the South Dakota metro with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and gas stations with convenience stores.
- Sioux Falls, about 164,676 residents (Minnehaha County); nearest markets Brandon (8 mi), Baltic (13 mi)
Working with WETYR in South Dakota
WETYR buys South Dakota businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces South Dakota owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in South Dakota. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
South Dakota business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in South Dakota?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 4,964 establishments in South Dakota across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 46th among the 50 states. With roughly 890,342 residents, that works out to 55.8 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. South Dakota holds 0.30% of the U.S. total in these industries and 0.27% of the population.
Which industries are most common in South Dakota?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (697), gas stations with convenience stores (460), and general auto repair shops (355). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone is $70,000 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, South Dakota is most concentrated in insurance agencies and brokerages, site preparation and excavation contractors and gas stations with convenience stores.
Does South Dakota tax the gain when I sell my business?
South Dakota has no state personal income tax, so an individual owner generally owes no state personal income tax on the gain from a sale. Entity-level state taxes, such as franchise or excise taxes, can still apply depending on how the business is organized, and federal capital gains and depreciation recapture apply as usual. Confirm the after-tax number with a South Dakota CPA before you sign a letter of intent.
Where in South Dakota are most of these businesses located?
Minnehaha County leads with about 1,181 tracked establishments, followed by Pennington County (787) and Lincoln County (490). Together the top three hold 50% of the state total. Median household income in Minnehaha County is $73,110 and the median home value is $246,200. The smallest tracked area is Sully County with 3.
Sell by industry in South Dakota
Other Great Plains states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.