Small businesses in Los Angeles: 2022 numbers
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area had 410,554 businesses with paid staff in 2022. Of the 49 industries below, the most common are law firms, restaurants, real estate agents. Each page shows local pay and firm sizes, with a calculator for what admin hours cost there.
Industries in Los Angeles
| Industry | Businesses | Avg pay | Under 10 staff | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law firms | 11,219 | $135,815 | 87% | 2nd |
| Restaurants | 11,173 | $32,562 | 44% | 2nd |
| Real estate agents | 9,270 | $107,672 | 97% | 1st |
| Dental practices | 9,196 | $49,837 | 85% | 2nd |
| General contractors | 7,604 | $68,657 | 91% | 2nd |
| Insurance agencies | 5,937 | $91,411 | 90% | 2nd |
| E-commerce brands | 5,015 | $74,597 | 87% | 2nd |
| Coffee shops | 4,826 | $23,656 | 53% | 2nd |
| Property management companies | 3,776 | $58,737 | 86% | 2nd |
| Plumbers | 3,681 | $76,331 | 81% | 2nd |
| Accounting firms | 3,514 | $105,523 | 88% | 2nd |
| Hair salons | 3,438 | $31,684 | 91% | 2nd |
| Electricians | 3,184 | $79,935 | 81% | 2nd |
| Auto repair shops | 3,088 | $54,717 | 93% | 2nd |
| IT services companies | 2,845 | $125,030 | 89% | 4th |
| Therapy practices | 2,689 | $38,597 | 89% | 1st |
| Nail salons | 2,644 | $18,525 | 84% | 2nd |
| Bookkeepers | 2,607 | $62,455 | 91% | 2nd |
| Preschools and daycares | 2,578 | $35,008 | 68% | 2nd |
| Physical therapy practices | 2,134 | $43,078 | 77% | 2nd |
| Cleaning services | 2,025 | $34,819 | 78% | 3rd |
| Landscapers | 2,011 | $46,405 | 78% | 6th |
| Gyms | 1,814 | $22,375 | 58% | 2nd |
| Boutique hotels | 1,762 | $47,621 | 52% | 1st |
| Architects | 1,662 | $101,494 | 85% | 2nd |
| Chiropractors | 1,627 | $36,472 | 95% | 2nd |
| Mortgage brokers | 1,447 | $78,265 | 92% | 1st |
| Interior designers | 1,374 | $77,425 | 94% | 2nd |
| Commercial real estate firms | 1,367 | $94,563 | 83% | 2nd |
| Marketing agencies | 1,355 | $120,801 | 81% | 2nd |
| Financial advisors | 1,296 | $158,348 | 94% | 2nd |
| Optometrists | 1,095 | $37,745 | 83% | 2nd |
| Veterinary clinics | 1,051 | $57,693 | 49% | 2nd |
| Bars and breweries | 974 | $26,428 | 57% | 3rd |
| Music schools | 939 | $24,566 | 71% | 2nd |
| Pet groomers | 900 | $30,610 | 83% | 2nd |
| Tutoring centers | 900 | $27,130 | 70% | 2nd |
| Catering companies | 757 | $32,560 | 75% | 2nd |
| Roofers | 706 | $61,665 | 83% | 3rd |
| Car dealerships | 685 | $101,576 | 34% | 2nd |
| Photographers | 676 | $40,057 | 96% | 2nd |
| Bakeries | 594 | $35,503 | 70% | 2nd |
| Pest control companies | 592 | $53,686 | 75% | 3rd |
| Recruiting agencies | 553 | $71,328 | 80% | 2nd |
| Moving companies | 518 | $41,899 | 79% | 2nd |
| Florists | 440 | $33,846 | 90% | 2nd |
| Food trucks | 347 | $30,628 | 87% | 2nd |
| Barbershops | 228 | $32,719 | 84% | 5th |
| Golf courses | 135 | $40,055 | 18% | 6th |
Where these numbers come from
The U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 (released 2024). Counties in this metro: Los Angeles County, California; Orange County, California. Page checked 2026-11-12.