Analysis
NAICS 423740 is the 2022 national industry for refrigeration equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers, part of 42374 (Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 19 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 1,262 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 12,348 people at an average annual payroll of $79,312 per employee (68th percentile of national industries). 44% 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 beverage coolers, mechanical, merchant wholesalers, cold storage machinery merchant wholesalers, compressors, refrigeration, merchant wholesalers and condensing units, refrigeration, merchant wholesalers, among 19 in all.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 423620, 423730, 424690 and 811310. 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 household-type refrigerators, freezers, and room air-conditioners are classified in 423620 (Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 5% and employment fell 2%. 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.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of refrigeration equipment (except household-type refrigerators, freezers, and air-conditioners).
Illustrative Examples:
Cold storage machinery merchant wholesalers Refrigerated display cases merchant wholesalers Commercial refrigerators merchant wholesalers Water coolers merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of household-type refrigerators, freezers, and room air-conditioners | 423620 Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of air-conditioning equipment (except room units) | 423730 Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of refrigerants | 424690 Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers |
| Repairing and maintaining commercial refrigeration equipment | 811310 Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance |
Index entries (19)
- Beverage coolers, mechanical, merchant wholesalers
- Cold storage machinery merchant wholesalers
- Compressors, refrigeration, merchant wholesalers
- Condensing units, refrigeration, merchant wholesalers
- Coolers, mechanical, merchant wholesalers
- Display cases, refrigerated, merchant wholesalers
- Drinking fountains, refrigerated, merchant wholesalers
- Fixtures, refrigerated, merchant wholesalers
- Fountains, drinking, refrigerated, merchant wholesalers
- Freezers, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
- Ice making machines merchant wholesalers
- Lockers, refrigerated, merchant wholesalers
- Refrigerated display cases merchant wholesalers
- Refrigeration equipment and supplies, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
- Refrigeration units, motor vehicle, merchant wholesalers
- Refrigerators (e.g., reach-in, walk-in), commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
- Showcases, refrigerated, merchant wholesalers
- Soda fountain fixtures, refrigerated, merchant wholesalers
- Water coolers, mechanical, merchant wholesalers