Highest-margin small-business industries (U.S.)

Ranked by national net profit margin (owner-operator basis, IRS SOI sole proprietorships, TY2023). These count the owner's own labor as profit — see methodology.

#	Industry	Net margin
1	Legal Services	43.8%
2	Other Professional, Scientific & Technical Services	40.8%
3	Accounting, Tax Prep & Bookkeeping Services	40.7%
4	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic & Professional Orgs	40.7%
5	Funds, Trusts & Other Financial Vehicles	40.1%
6	Professional, Scientific & Technical Services	39.7%
7	Tax Preparation Services	39.3%
8	Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets	37.7%
9	Computer Systems Design Services	37.0%
10	Child Day Care Services	36.7%
11	Social Assistance	36.7%
12	Ambulatory Health Care Services	36.3%
13	Insurance Agencies & Brokerages	36.1%
14	Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers	35.0%
15	Health Care & Social Assistance	34.9%
16	Other Information Services	34.6%
17	Architectural, Engineering & Related Services	31.9%
18	Specialized Design Services	30.3%
19	Educational Services	29.4%
20	Real Estate	27.2%
21	Offices of Dentists	27.1%
22	Performing Arts & Spectator Sports	26.5%
23	Information	24.6%
24	Beauty Salons	24.4%
25	Personal & Laundry Services	24.4%
26	Real Estate & Rental and Leasing	24.3%
27	Motion Picture & Sound Recording	23.8%
28	Data Processing, Hosting & Related Services	23.7%
29	Support Activities for Mining	22.1%
30	Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	21.6%
31	Landscaping Services	21.2%
32	Janitorial Services	21.2%
33	Administrative & Support Services	21.2%
34	Finance & Insurance	20.2%
35	Administrative & Support & Waste Services	19.8%
36	Other Services (except Public Administration)	18.9%
37	Credit Intermediation & Related Activities	18.3%
38	Publishing Industries	18.2%
39	Machinery Manufacturing	16.7%
40	Hospitals	16.6%
41	Primary Metal Manufacturing	16.2%
42	Plumbing, Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors	15.7%
43	Specialty Trade Contractors	15.7%
44	Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction	15.0%
45	Nursing & Residential Care Facilities	14.9%
46	Construction (all)	14.8%
47	Nonmetallic Mineral Product Mfg	14.4%
48	Securities, Commodity Contracts & Investments	14.1%
49	Chemical Manufacturing	13.3%
50	New Single-Family Housing Construction	13.2%
51	Construction of Buildings	13.2%
52	Wood Product Manufacturing	13.1%
53	Oil & Gas Extraction	12.0%
54	Heavy & Civil Engineering Construction	11.2%
55	Truck Transportation	10.1%
56	Fabricated Metal Product Mfg	9.8%
57	Utilities	9.6%
58	Electrical Equipment & Appliance Mfg	9.3%
59	Support Activities for Transportation	9.2%
60	Couriers & Messengers	9.0%
61	Furniture & Related Product Mfg	8.9%
62	Wholesale Trade	8.5%
63	Automotive Repair & Maintenance	8.0%
64	Waste Management & Remediation Services	7.8%
65	Building Material & Garden Equipment Dealers	7.7%
66	General Automotive Repair	7.5%
67	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	7.5%
68	Miscellaneous Store Retailers	7.5%
69	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	7.3%
70	Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	6.6%
71	Fitness & Recreational Sports Centers	6.2%
72	Amusement, Gambling & Recreation	6.2%
73	Electronics & Appliance Stores	5.5%
74	Mining (except Oil & Gas)	5.4%
75	Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book & Music Stores	5.2%
76	Food & Beverage Retailers	4.3%
77	Motor Vehicle & Parts Dealers	3.6%
78	Transportation Equipment Mfg	3.5%
79	Full-Service Restaurants	3.4%
80	General Merchandise Stores	3.4%
81	Gasoline Stations	2.0%
82	Accommodation & Food Services	1.9%
83	Health & Personal Care Stores	0.9%
84	Furniture & Home Furnishings Stores	0.3%
85	Computer & Electronic Product Mfg	-0.2%
86	Pipeline Transportation	-0.6%
87	Food Manufacturing	-1.2%
88	Water Transportation	-1.3%
89	Printing & Related Support	-2.6%
90	Clothing & Accessories Stores	-2.8%
91	Warehousing & Storage	-7.2%
92	Rental & Leasing Services	-9.2%
93	Accommodation	-13.0%

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