The three largest of those industries in Washington are dental practices (3,678 establishments), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (3,309), and landscaping and tree services (3,200). WETYR buys qualifying Washington businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Washington owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Washington
Washington ranks 10th in the country for dental practices, with 3,678 establishments, or 2.7% of the U.S. total, against 2.3% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in Washington.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental practices | 3,678 | 47.8 | 1.17 | 10th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 3,309 | 43.0 | 1.06 | 13th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 3,200 | 41.6 | 1.18 | 12th |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 2,649 | 34.5 | 0.85 | 17th |
| Childcare centers | 2,374 | 30.9 | 1.29 | 10th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 2,197 | 28.6 | 0.87 | 16th |
| Electrical contractors | 2,131 | 27.7 | 1.13 | 12th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 2,073 | 27.0 | 1.35 | 9th |
| General auto repair shops | 1,740 | 22.6 | 0.90 | 17th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 1,654 | 21.5 | 0.74 | 22nd |
| IT services and computer systems design | 1,648 | 21.4 | 1.27 | 12th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 1,461 | 19.0 | 1.62 | 7th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 1,256 | 16.3 | 1.09 | 11th |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 1,029 | 13.4 | 1.12 | 13th |
| Roofing contractors | 961 | 12.5 | 1.76 | 5th |
Where Washington is over and under the national average
Per resident, Washington runs heaviest in flooring contractors (870 establishments, index 2.20, 4th nationally by count); septic and drainage services (114 establishments, index 1.81, 7th nationally by count); roofing contractors (961 establishments, index 1.76, 5th nationally by count). That top index of 2.20 means 120% more flooring contractors per Washington resident than the U.S. average. Concentration like that usually points to an established local operator base.
At the other end, Washington is thinnest in home health care agencies (index 0.47) and funeral homes (index 0.47). A low index can mean an underserved market for a buyer building a platform, or simply that demand in Washington is met from neighboring states.
Washington counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 12,861 | $116,340 | $761,500 |
| Snohomish County | 4,663 | $104,083 | $592,800 |
| Pierce County | 4,482 | $91,486 | $444,600 |
| Spokane County | 2,996 | $70,394 | $331,600 |
| Clark County | 2,671 | $90,115 | $453,200 |
| Thurston County | 1,409 | $88,895 | $411,700 |
| Whatcom County | 1,361 | $77,581 | $475,000 |
| Kitsap County | 1,354 | $93,675 | $463,000 |
| Yakima County | 1,050 | $64,910 | $254,700 |
| Benton County | 1,028 | $83,778 | $338,700 |
King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County hold 55% of the 40,351 tracked establishments across 37 Washington counties or areas. Median household income runs from $49,345 in Whitman County to $116,340 in King County (2.4x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
Washington metro markets
Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue and Kent are the 6 Washington metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for dental practices and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms.
- Seattle, about 652,405 residents (King County); nearest markets Bellevue (6 mi), Renton (10 mi)
- Spokane, about 210,721 residents (Spokane County); nearest markets Post Falls (23 mi), Coeur D Alene (30 mi)
- Tacoma, about 203,446 residents (Pierce County); nearest markets Lakewood (7 mi), Puyallup (8 mi)
- Vancouver, about 167,405 residents (Clark County); nearest markets Portland (8 mi), Beaverton (13 mi)
- Bellevue, about 133,992 residents (King County); nearest markets Seattle (6 mi), Renton (9 mi)
- Kent, about 124,435 residents (King County); nearest markets Auburn (5 mi), Renton (7 mi)
Working with WETYR in Washington
WETYR buys Washington businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Washington owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Washington. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Washington business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Washington?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 40,351 establishments in Washington across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 13th among the 50 states. With roughly 7,688,549 residents, that works out to 52.5 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Washington holds 2.44% of the U.S. total in these industries and 2.33% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Washington?
By establishment count the largest are dental practices (3,678), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (3,309), and landscaping and tree services (3,200). Dental practices alone makes up 9.1% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Washington is most concentrated in flooring contractors, septic and drainage services and roofing contractors.
Does Washington tax the gain when I sell my business?
Washington has no personal income tax, but it does levy a state capital gains tax on certain long-term gains above an annual standard deduction, and the sale of a business interest can fall in scope. A deduction exists for qualified family-owned small businesses. Federal tax applies as usual. Confirm your exposure with a Washington CPA before signing a letter of intent.
Where in Washington are most of these businesses located?
King County leads with about 12,861 tracked establishments, followed by Snohomish County (4,663) and Pierce County (4,482). Together the top three hold 55% of the state total. Median household income in King County is $116,340 and the median home value is $761,500. The smallest tracked area is Columbia County with 6.
Sell by industry in Washington
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.