Analysis
NAICS 561422 is the 2022 national industry for telemarketing bureaus and other contact centers, part of 56142 (Telephone Call Centers). Census lists 8 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 22% and employment fell 18%. 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 3,106 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 344,605 people at an average annual payroll of $38,867 per employee (8th percentile of national industries). 35% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 2 codes at this level within Telephone Call Centers, with 75% of them.
Census lists 6 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 561421, 42, 518210 and 492210. 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 customer service call centers, floral wire services (i.e., telemarketing services), online customer service centers and telemarketing bureaus, among 8 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating call centers that initiate or receive communications via telephone, facsimile, email, or other communication modes for purposes such as: (1) promoting products or services, (2) taking orders, (3) soliciting contributions, and (4) providing information or assistance regarding products or services. Telemarketing bureaus and other contact centers provide these services on behalf of clients and do not own the products or provide the services that they are representing, or they serve other establishments of the same enterprise.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Answering telephone calls and relaying messages | 561421 Telephone Answering Services |
| Wholesale or retail sales | 42 Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade |
| Providing automated data processing services and computing infrastructure for call centers | 518210 Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services |
| Providing restaurant meal and grocery order and delivery services (i.e., independent order and delivery services) | 492210 Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
| Organizing and conducting charitable fundraising campaigns on a contract or fee basis, that may include telephone solicitation services | 561499 All Other Business Support Services |
| Gathering, recording, tabulating, and presenting marketing and public opinion data, that may include telephone canvassing services | 541910 Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling |
Index entries (8)
- Customer service call centers
- Floral wire services (i.e., telemarketing services)
- Online customer service centers
- Telemarketing bureaus
- Telemarketing services on a contract or fee basis
- Telephone call centers (e.g., customer service centers, telemarketing services)
- Telephone solicitation services on a contract or fee basis
- Wire services (i.e., telemarketing services), floral