Groundwork

Markets · 56 business types

U.S. market data for 56 small-business types

Every U.S. state, metro area, small-town market and county, with competitor counts, household spending and a Groundwork market score for each of 56 business types.

For example: Auto repair shops in the Columbus metro area · Collision repair and body shops in the Salt Lake City-Murray metro area · Car washes and detailers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area

Markets covered
4,120
Business types
56
Map listings counted
5.7M
Official establishments
2.9M

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

The five highest Groundwork market scores among metro areas of 1 million people or more, for six trades that roll-up buyers screen most. Each list links to the full ranking of every metro area, small-town market and county.

All 56 business types

Each type’s page ranks every metro area, small-town market and county, with the U.S. figures, and has every market in one Excel file, free with an account.

Funeral services

Figures beside each type: map listings across the U.S.

Markets by state

Each state’s page covers every business type, and lists its metro areas, small-town markets and counties. Figures beside each state: population, survey estimates 2020–2024.

How the Groundwork market score works

The full method →
  1. 35%Household spending per competitor
  2. 25%Households per business with payroll
  3. 20%Population growth
  4. 20%Spending power

Each business type is scored in every market from 0 to 100, against markets of the same kind: metro areas with metro areas, counties with counties. Each measure is ranked among those peers, then the four are weighted as above. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. A market needs at least 5 listings of a type to be scored for it.

Questions

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Markets with fewer than 5 map listings of the type, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored, since a few businesses can swing their figures.

Where do the figures come from?

Groundwork compiles them from public and licensed sources: survey estimates for 2020–2024, population estimates for 2025, official business counts for 2023, one-person business counts, household spending by income, and map listings as of September 2026. SBA-backed loans are counted from fiscal 2022. The methodology page explains each measure and its limits.

How often are the figures updated?

Each source is refreshed as its new release comes out, and the pages are rebuilt then. These figures were built in October 2026.

What counts as a market?

The 50 states and DC, 387 metro areas (a core city of 50,000 or more and the counties around it), 538 small-town markets (a town of 10,000 to 50,000 and its county) and 3,144 counties. Each has figures for 56 business types.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address anywhere in the U.S. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Screening a site or an acquisition?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

Run a site report See plans
Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Screening many markets at once? Talk to us

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.