Analysis
NAICS 561450 is the 2022 national industry for credit bureaus, part of 56145 (Credit Bureaus). Census lists 10 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 408 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 26,469 people at an average annual payroll of $159,602 per employee (98th percentile of national industries). 43% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 21% and employment rose 13%. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include commercial credit reporting bureaus, consumer credit reporting bureaus, credit agencies and credit bureaus, among 10 in all.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in compiling information, such as credit and employment histories, and providing the information to financial institutions, retailers, and others who have a need to evaluate the creditworthiness of individuals and businesses.
Illustrative Examples:
Credit agencies Credit rating services Credit investigation services Credit reporting bureaus
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (10)
- Commercial credit reporting bureaus
- Consumer credit reporting bureaus
- Credit agencies
- Credit bureaus
- Credit clearinghouses
- Credit investigation services
- Credit rating services
- Credit reporting bureaus
- Investigation services, credit
- Mercantile credit reporting bureaus