Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers — Market Size & Saturation

There are 13,280 industrial supplies merchant wholesalers establishments in the United States — that's 4.0 businesses per 100,000 people.

13,280
Total Establishments (QCEW)
33,683
Total Firms
4.0
Businesses per 100K People

Is Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers Oversaturated?

With only 4.0 businesses per 100,000 people, the industrial supplies merchant wholesalers market has relatively low saturation. Just 13,280 establishments serve the entire US market.

Low saturation can indicate an opportunity — either the market is underserved, or there are high barriers to entry (capital requirements, licensing, specialized skills). If demand exists and you can clear the entry barriers, competition will be limited. However, verify that low saturation isn't due to declining demand.

Competition Dynamics

Entry and exit rates reveal how actively the competitive landscape is changing.

5.0%
Entry Rate
5.9%
Exit Rate
74%
5-Year Survival
+3.6%
Net Growth

More businesses are closing (5.9%) than opening (5.0%) — the market is consolidating. Remaining players may benefit from reduced competition.

Should You Enter This Market?

Here's a summary of the competitive picture for industrial supplies merchant wholesalers:

Market Size

13,280 establishments

Density

4.0 per 100K people

Avg Revenue/Business

$11.5M/year

Competition Level

Low Competition

Low competition suggests opportunity — if you can clear entry barriers and validate demand in your local market, you'll face fewer rivals.

Revenue benchmarks for Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers →Survival & failure rates →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many industrial supplies merchant wholesalers businesses are in the US?
There are 13,280 industrial supplies merchant wholesalers establishments in the United States (33,683 unique firms). This translates to approximately 4.0 businesses per 100,000 people nationwide.
Is the industrial supplies merchant wholesalers market oversaturated?
With only 4.0 businesses per 100K people, the industrial supplies merchant wholesalers market has low saturation and may present opportunities for new entrants.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW (2023), U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. Population: 331,449,281 (2020 Census).