Analysis
NAICS 423420 is the 2022 national industry for office equipment merchant wholesalers, part of 42342 (Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 32 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 41% and employment fell 25%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 5,377 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 83,163 people at an average annual payroll of $77,877 per employee (66th percentile of national industries). 51% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include accounting machines merchant wholesalers, addressing machines merchant wholesalers, automated teller machines (ATM) merchant wholesalers and bank equipment merchant wholesalers, among 32 in all.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 423210, 423430, 424120 and 423690. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, merchant wholesale distribution of office furniture are classified in 423210 (Furniture Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of office machines and related equipment (except computers and computer peripheral equipment).
Illustrative Examples:
Automated teller machines (ATM) merchant wholesalers Calculators and calculating machines merchant wholesalers Cash registers merchant wholesalers Security safes merchant wholesalers Copying machines merchant wholesalers Point of sale terminals merchant wholesalers Paper shredders merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of office furniture | 423210 Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of computers and computer peripheral equipment (including printers) | 423430 Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of office supplies | 424120 Stationery and Office Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of facsimile (fax) machines, modems, and communications equipment | 423690 Other Electronic Parts and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (32)
- Accounting machines merchant wholesalers
- Addressing machines merchant wholesalers
- Automated teller machines (ATM) merchant wholesalers
- Bank equipment merchant wholesalers
- Blueprinting equipment merchant wholesalers
- Bookkeeping machines merchant wholesalers
- Business machines and equipment (except computers) merchant wholesalers
- Calculators and calculating machines merchant wholesalers
- Cash registers merchant wholesalers
- Check handling machines merchant wholesalers
- Coin sorting machines merchant wholesalers
- Copying machines merchant wholesalers
- Currency handling machines merchant wholesalers
- Dictating machines merchant wholesalers
- Forms handling machines merchant wholesalers
- Labeling machines merchant wholesalers
- Letter and envelope handling machines merchant wholesalers
- Machines, office, merchant wholesalers
- Mailing machines merchant wholesalers
- Microfilm equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
- Office equipment merchant wholesalers
- Office machines merchant wholesalers
- Paper shredders merchant wholesalers
- Perforating machines merchant wholesalers
- Point of sale terminals merchant wholesalers
- Postage meters merchant wholesalers
- Safes, security, merchant wholesalers
- Security safes merchant wholesalers
- Stapling machines merchant wholesalers
- Tape dispensing machines merchant wholesalers
- Time recording machines merchant wholesalers
- Typewriters merchant wholesalers