Analysis
NAICS 533110 is the 2022 national industry for lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works), part of 53311 (Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)). Census lists 10 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 2,701 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 44,095 people at an average annual payroll of $136,596 per employee (95th percentile of national industries). 64% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include brand name licensing, franchise agreements, leasing, selling or licensing…, industrial design licensing and oil royalty companies, among 10 in all.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 51, 711510, 531 and 532. 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, producing, reproducing, and/or distributing copyrighted works are classified in 51 (Information) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in assigning rights to assets, such as patents, trademarks, brand names, and/or franchise agreements, for which a royalty payment or licensing fee is paid to the asset holder.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Producing, reproducing, and/or distributing copyrighted works | 51 Information |
| Independent artists, writers, and performers primarily engaged in creating copyrighted works | 711510 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers |
| Leasing real property | 531 Real Estate |
| Leasing tangible assets, such as automobiles, computers, consumer goods, and industrial machinery and equipment | 532 Rental and Leasing Services |
Index entries (10)
- Brand name licensing
- Franchise agreements, leasing, selling or licensing, without providing other services
- Industrial design licensing
- Oil royalty companies
- Oil royalty leasing
- Oil royalty traders (except for own account)
- Patent buying and licensing
- Patent leasing
- Performance rights, licensing of
- Trademark licensing