Original data analysis · Published October 16, 2026
126,356 U.S. businesses reported at least $1 million in annual receipts without having paid employees. The latest Census figures put a real number behind the million-dollar, no-payroll business. Wholesale and vehicle businesses feature prominently, while most familiar service businesses reach that level far less often.
These are 2024 receipts, released September 29, 2026. “No paid employees” is a business classification: a firm can have multiple owners, use contractors, or in some cases lease its workforce. The $1 million is revenue before expenses.
Where million-dollar businesses show up most often
For a consistent comparison, we ranked 108 four-digit industries with at least 10,000 nonemployer businesses and receipt brackets that reconcile to their published total. The table shows the highest shares in that group. Census applies different maximum-receipt cutoffs by industry, so this is a comparison within its published population, not a ranking of earning potential.
| Industry | NAICS | All businesses | At $1M+ | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 4236 | 10,042 | 495 | 4.93% |
| Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers | 4244 | 30,559 | 1,354 | 4.43% |
| Automobile dealers | 4411 | 126,322 | 5,373 | 4.25% |
| Gambling Industries | 7132 | 18,298 | 724 | 3.96% |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 4231 | 17,786 | 689 | 3.87% |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | 4453 | 12,202 | 452 | 3.70% |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 4238 | 19,804 | 704 | 3.55% |
| Securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage | 5231 | 15,815 | 542 | 3.43% |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing | 5324 | 37,305 | 1,018 | 2.73% |
| Other motor vehicle dealers | 4412 | 20,111 | 521 | 2.59% |
| Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 4249 | 80,237 | 2,026 | 2.53% |
| Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 4239 | 142,907 | 3,474 | 2.43% |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers | 4492 | 34,009 | 730 | 2.15% |
| Nondepository credit intermediation | 5222 | 25,872 | 517 | 2.00% |
| Residential Building Construction | 2361 | 897,780 | 15,879 | 1.77% |
The service-business reality check
High-ticket sales businesses can pass substantial product costs through their revenue. That makes their receipts hard to compare with a cleaner’s labor revenue. The selected service categories below are shown separately at the detail Census publishes.
| Business category | NAICS | At $1M+ | All businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Building Construction | 2361 | 15,879 | 897,780 | 1.769% |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 5415 | 1,802 | 334,886 | 0.538% |
| Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers | 5312 | 2,179 | 819,954 | 0.266% |
| Landscaping Services | 56173 | 405 | 537,970 | 0.075% |
| Janitorial Services | 56172 | 304 | 1,173,265 | 0.026% |
| Personal care services | 8121 | 836 | 1,539,712 | 0.054% |
Janitorial services includes 304 businesses in the $1 million-plus bracket, out of 1,173,265 nonemployers. Landscaping includes 405 out of 537,970. These figures show that large no-payroll service businesses exist. They do not show how much work the owners do, what they subcontract, or how much profit they keep.
Three questions the million-dollar headline cannot answer
- How much does the owner take home? Revenue pays for materials, subcontractors, vehicles, rent and other costs before it becomes profit.
- Is it a one-person business? Partnerships and corporations are included alongside sole proprietorships. No payroll does not identify the number of working owners.
- How long did it take? This is a one-year population count, not a tracked startup cohort.
The practical takeaway is to match your business model to the work and costs behind the sales number. A high-revenue reseller, a solo consultant and a subcontracting business can look similar in a headline while operating very differently.
Explore all 108 eligible industries
| Industry | NAICS | All businesses | At $1M+ | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 4236 | 10,042 | 495 | 4.93% |
| Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers | 4244 | 30,559 | 1,354 | 4.43% |
| Automobile dealers | 4411 | 126,322 | 5,373 | 4.25% |
| Gambling Industries | 7132 | 18,298 | 724 | 3.96% |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 4231 | 17,786 | 689 | 3.87% |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | 4453 | 12,202 | 452 | 3.70% |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 4238 | 19,804 | 704 | 3.55% |
| Securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage | 5231 | 15,815 | 542 | 3.43% |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing | 5324 | 37,305 | 1,018 | 2.73% |
| Other motor vehicle dealers | 4412 | 20,111 | 521 | 2.59% |
| Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 4249 | 80,237 | 2,026 | 2.53% |
| Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 4239 | 142,907 | 3,474 | 2.43% |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers | 4492 | 34,009 | 730 | 2.15% |
| Nondepository credit intermediation | 5222 | 25,872 | 517 | 2.00% |
| Residential Building Construction | 2361 | 897,780 | 15,879 | 1.77% |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 4234 | 12,393 | 206 | 1.66% |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | 4243 | 30,430 | 491 | 1.61% |
| Support Activities for Mining | 2131 | 16,989 | 273 | 1.61% |
| Other financial investment activities | 5239 | 332,745 | 4,987 | 1.50% |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers | 4413 | 62,982 | 901 | 1.43% |
| Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers | 4232 | 12,435 | 173 | 1.39% |
| Offices of Dentists | 6212 | 57,079 | 784 | 1.37% |
| Shoe Retailers | 4582 | 10,410 | 141 | 1.35% |
| Grocery and Convenience Retailers | 4451 | 77,659 | 1,043 | 1.34% |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 6214 | 19,630 | 242 | 1.23% |
| Utility system construction | 2371 | 12,851 | 147 | 1.14% |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | 4599 | 322,238 | 3,341 | 1.04% |
| Activities related to credit intermediation | 5223 | 23,490 | 243 | 1.03% |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | 4491 | 59,861 | 611 | 1.02% |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 2111 | 44,076 | 410 | 0.93% |
| Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers | 4583 | 59,670 | 554 | 0.93% |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers | 4442 | 24,136 | 217 | 0.90% |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3399 | 66,278 | 519 | 0.78% |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 6215 | 20,576 | 161 | 0.78% |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 2379 | 14,852 | 113 | 0.76% |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | 5418 | 221,163 | 1,547 | 0.70% |
| Legal Services | 5411 | 275,815 | 1,888 | 0.68% |
| Death Care Services | 8122 | 15,494 | 106 | 0.68% |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | 4591 | 111,747 | 749 | 0.67% |
| General Rental Centers | 5323 | 12,144 | 74 | 0.61% |
| Specialty Food Retailers | 4452 | 112,629 | 670 | 0.59% |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 8113 | 37,462 | 219 | 0.58% |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | 5192 | 49,649 | 275 | 0.55% |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 5415 | 334,886 | 1,802 | 0.54% |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | 7224 | 30,184 | 161 | 0.53% |
| Traveler Accommodation | 7211 | 86,202 | 446 | 0.52% |
| Offices of Physicians | 6211 | 245,987 | 1,232 | 0.50% |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | 4561 | 291,408 | 1,420 | 0.49% |
| Support Activities for Animal Production | 1152 | 63,211 | 298 | 0.47% |
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 2381 | 317,990 | 1,439 | 0.45% |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | 5321 | 46,182 | 206 | 0.45% |
| Employment Services | 5613 | 45,406 | 201 | 0.44% |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | 5615 | 107,043 | 470 | 0.44% |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | 5182 | 65,001 | 274 | 0.42% |
| Fishing | 1141 | 55,081 | 225 | 0.41% |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | 4581 | 250,712 | 982 | 0.39% |
| Motion picture and video industries | 5121 | 132,060 | 498 | 0.38% |
| Book Retailers and News Dealers | 4592 | 13,150 | 48 | 0.37% |
| Warehousing and Storage | 4931 | 30,826 | 112 | 0.36% |
| Hunting and Trapping | 1142 | 16,999 | 58 | 0.34% |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 5413 | 239,366 | 802 | 0.34% |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 7139 | 148,543 | 450 | 0.30% |
| Specialized design services | 5414 | 284,294 | 815 | 0.29% |
| Consumer Goods Rental | 5322 | 37,549 | 102 | 0.27% |
| Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers | 5312 | 819,954 | 2,179 | 0.27% |
| Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers | 4594 | 136,891 | 346 | 0.25% |
| Automotive repair and maintenance | 8111 | 401,679 | 1,005 | 0.25% |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 7115 | 1,115,783 | 2,732 | 0.24% |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 5417 | 59,283 | 133 | 0.22% |
| Business Support Services | 5614 | 258,586 | 552 | 0.21% |
| Facilities Support Services | 5612 | 33,154 | 70 | 0.21% |
| Other support services | 5619 | 142,631 | 300 | 0.21% |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 8112 | 30,024 | 61 | 0.20% |
| Spectator Sports | 7112 | 269,053 | 529 | 0.20% |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | 8114 | 163,670 | 305 | 0.19% |
| Used Merchandise Retailers | 4595 | 172,806 | 320 | 0.19% |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services | 8123 | 26,476 | 49 | 0.19% |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | 4859 | 140,480 | 234 | 0.17% |
| Activities Related to Real Estate | 5313 | 926,468 | 1,539 | 0.17% |
| Performing arts companies | 7111 | 103,239 | 170 | 0.16% |
| Florists | 4593 | 30,873 | 48 | 0.16% |
| Support Activities for Forestry | 1153 | 12,927 | 20 | 0.15% |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | 1151 | 67,500 | 98 | 0.15% |
| Other ambulatory health care services | 6219 | 55,968 | 80 | 0.14% |
| Offices of other health practitioners | 6213 | 665,002 | 876 | 0.13% |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | 5412 | 405,112 | 365 | 0.09% |
| Special food services | 7223 | 406,608 | 241 | 0.06% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | 6243 | 12,794 | 7 | 0.05% |
| Office Administrative Services | 5611 | 388,296 | 211 | 0.05% |
| Personal care services | 8121 | 1,539,712 | 836 | 0.05% |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps | 7213 | 22,112 | 12 | 0.05% |
| Home Health Care Services | 6216 | 441,716 | 230 | 0.05% |
| Investigation and Security Services | 5616 | 166,583 | 85 | 0.05% |
| Individual and Family Services | 6241 | 202,887 | 103 | 0.05% |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 5617 | 1,911,817 | 948 | 0.05% |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | 6242 | 11,151 | 4 | 0.04% |
| Child Care Services | 6244 | 537,849 | 44 | 0.01% |
| Lessors of Real Estate | 5311 | 1,380,438 | 86 | 0.01% |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 2382 | 385,453 | 6 | 0.00% |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 2389 | 605,015 | 9 | 0.00% |
| Building finishing contractors | 2383 | 678,091 | 5 | 0.00% |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 3118 | 37,239 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 3119 | 20,109 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 3231 | 35,735 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing | 3256 | 10,987 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Specialized freight trucking | 4842 | 70,299 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Taxi and Limousine Service | 4853 | 1,602,297 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Sound Recording Industries | 5122 | 44,240 | 0 | 0.00% |
Data and method
Source: 2024 Census Nonemployer Statistics, NS00NONEMP, national geography, all legal forms (LFO 001), 2022 NAICS. We sum the published $1 million–$2,499,999, $2.5 million–$4,999,999 and $5 million-plus establishment counts and divide by the all-receipts total.
Only industries whose published size classes sum exactly to their total enter the industry comparison. This avoids silently treating a missing or suppressed class as zero. Industries with small reconciliation differences are excluded, not labeled as having no million-dollar firms. All-sector brackets reconcile to 31,985,874 businesses; 112,661 + 12,644 + 1,051 = 126,356 businesses at $1 million or more.
The Census methodology applies industry-specific upper receipts cutoffs and disclosure protections. Some businesses with entirely leased workforces can enter the nonemployer universe. Nonemployers generally need $1,000 in receipts to be included, or $1 in construction. Receipts-size data are national only; this study does not infer state rankings or claim the revenue is profit.
Checked October 16, 2026. This is a fixed 2024 edition. It does not combine employer-business data or compare incompatible historical cutoffs.
Cite this study
StartBusinessByState.com. “$1 Million in Revenue. Zero Employees. Which Businesses Pull It Off?” Published October 16, 2026. https://startbusinessbystate.com/million-dollar-businesses-without-employees/.
Our original analysis and graphic are available under CC BY 4.0. Credit this study and link to this page when reusing them. Underlying federal data remain available from the original agencies.
Embed the chart with a credit link
<figure><a href="https://startbusinessbystate.com/million-dollar-businesses-without-employees/"><img src="https://startbusinessbystate.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/million-dollar-businesses-without-employees.png" alt="$1 Million in Revenue. Zero Employees. Which Businesses Pull It Off?" style="max-width:100%;height:auto"></a><figcaption>Source: <a href="https://startbusinessbystate.com/million-dollar-businesses-without-employees/">StartBusinessByState.com</a></figcaption></figure>