Analysis
NAICS 722513 is the 2022 national industry for limited-service restaurants, part of 72251 (Restaurants and Other Eating Places). Census lists 17 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 270,088 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 4,965,080 people at an average annual payroll of $20,857 per employee (1st percentile of national industries). 24% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which points to larger operations.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 4 codes at this level within Restaurants and Other Eating Places, with 43.7% of them.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 722514, 722511, 722515 and 445292. 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 cafes, limited-service, carryout restaurants, delicatessen restaurants and diners, limited-service, among 17 in all.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 6% and employment rose 7%. 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 U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing food services (except snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating. Food and drink may be consumed on premises, taken out, or delivered to the customer's location. Some establishments in this industry may provide these food services in combination with selling alcoholic beverages.
Illustrative Examples:
Delicatessen restaurants Pizza delivery shops Family restaurants, limited-service Takeout eating places Fast-food restaurants Fast casual restaurants Takeout sandwich shops Limited-service pizza parlors
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Preparing and serving meals for immediate consumption using cafeteria-style serving equipment, known as cafeterias | 722514 Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets |
| Providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating | 722511 Full-Service Restaurants |
| Selling a specialty snack (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, candy, cookies) or nonalcoholic beverage, except from mobile vehicles, for consumption on or near the premises | 722515 Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
| Retailing confectionery goods and nuts not packaged for immediate consumption | 445292 Confectionery and Nut Retailers |
| Retailing baked goods (e.g., pretzels, doughnuts, cookies, and bagels) not baked on the premises and not for immediate consumption | 445291 Baked Goods Retailers |
| Preparing and serving alcoholic beverages, known as bars, taverns, or nightclubs | 722410 Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
| Restaurant meals order and delivery services (i.e., independent order and delivery services) | 492210 Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
Index entries (17)
- Cafes, limited-service
- Carryout restaurants
- Delicatessen restaurants
- Diners, limited-service
- Drive-in restaurants
- Family restaurants, limited-service
- Fast casual restaurants
- Fast-food restaurants
- Pizza delivery shops
- Pizza parlors, limited-service
- Pizzerias, limited-service (e.g., takeout)
- Restaurants, carryout
- Restaurants, fast-food
- Sandwich shops, limited-service
- Steak houses, limited-service
- Sub shops, limited-service
- Takeout eating places