Analysis
NAICS 459210 is the 2022 national industry for book retailers and news dealers, part of 45921 (Book Retailers and News Dealers). Census lists 8 example activities under it in the official index.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include book clubs, not publishing, new books, mail-order, book stores, comic book stores and home delivery newspaper routes, direct selling, among 8 in all.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 459510, 5131, 516210 and 711510. 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, retailing used books (including used rare books), newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals are classified in 459510 (Used Merchandise Retailers) instead.
County Business Patterns publishes no national count for it, either because the code is out of the survey's scope or because the figures are suppressed to protect individual businesses.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new books, newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals (without publishing).
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Retailing used books (including used rare books), newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals | 459510 Used Merchandise Retailers |
| Publishing books, newspapers, and periodicals | 5131 Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers |
| Streaming audio books, news, and periodical content without publishing | 516210 Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers |
| Independently authoring books and other written works and acting as their own publisher | 711510 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers |
Index entries (8)
- Book clubs, not publishing, new books, mail-order
- Book stores
- Comic book stores
- Home delivery newspaper routes, direct selling
- Magazine stands (i.e., permanent)
- News dealers
- Newsstands (i.e., permanent)
- Religious book stores