Analysis
NAICS 423440 is the 2022 national industry for other commercial equipment merchant wholesalers, part of 42344 (Other Commercial Equipment Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 36 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 3,637 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 49,828 people at an average annual payroll of $74,823 per employee (62nd percentile of national industries). 49% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Census lists 5 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 423410, 423420, 423430 and 423490. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include balances and scales (except laboratory) merchant wholesalers, bar equipment merchant wholesalers, chinaware, commercial, merchant wholesalers and coffee makers, commercial, merchant wholesalers, among 36 in all.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 8% and employment fell 4%. 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.
For example, merchant wholesale distribution of photographic equipment and supplies are classified in 423410 (Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of commercial and related machines and equipment (except photographic equipment and supplies; office equipment; and computers and computer peripheral equipment and software) generally used in restaurants and stores.
Illustrative Examples:
Balances and scales (except laboratory) merchant wholesalers Commercial shelving merchant wholesalers Coin- or card-operated merchandising machine merchant wholesalers Electrical signs merchant wholesalers Commercial chinaware merchant wholesalers Partitions merchant wholesalers Commercial cooking equipment merchant wholesalers Store fixtures (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of photographic equipment and supplies | 423410 Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of office machines and related equipment | 423420 Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of computers, computer peripheral equipment, and packaged computer software | 423430 Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of laboratory scales and balances (except medical and dental) | 423490 Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of refrigerated store fixtures | 423740 Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (36)
- Balances and scales (except laboratory) merchant wholesalers
- Bar equipment merchant wholesalers
- Chinaware, commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Coffee makers, commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Coin- or card-operated merchandising machine merchant wholesalers
- Coin- or card-operated phonographs and vending machines merchant wholesalers
- Cooking equipment, commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Cups, commercial (except paper and disposable plastics), merchant wholesalers
- Dishes, commercial (except paper and disposable plastics), merchant wholesalers
- Dishwashing equipment, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
- Display cases (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
- Electrical signs merchant wholesalers
- Fixtures, store (except refrigerated), merchant wholesalers
- Food service equipment (except refrigerated), commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Garbage disposal units, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
- Hotel equipment and supplies (except furniture) merchant wholesalers
- Kitchen appliances, commercial (except refrigerated), merchant wholesalers
- Kitchen utensils, commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Lockers (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
- Mannequins merchant wholesalers
- Merchandising machines, coin- or card-operated, merchant wholesalers
- Microwave ovens, commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Ovens, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
- Pans, commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Partitions merchant wholesalers
- Phonographs, coin- or card-operated, merchant wholesalers
- Restaurant equipment (except furniture) merchant wholesalers
- Shelving, commercial, merchant wholesalers
- Showcases (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
- Signs, electrical, merchant wholesalers
- Soda fountain fixtures (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
- Store equipment (except furniture) merchant wholesalers
- Store fixtures (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
- Vending machines merchant wholesalers
- Window display equipment merchant wholesalers
- Woodenware, commercial, merchant wholesalers