Analysis
NAICS 812320 is the 2022 national industry for drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated), part of 81232 (Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated)). Census lists 26 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 15,801 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 93,512 people at an average annual payroll of $28,922 per employee (3rd percentile of national industries). 66% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 21% and employment fell 28%. 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 agents, laundry and drycleaning, apparel pressing services, bobtailers, laundry and drycleaning and cleaners, drycleaning and laundry service (except…, among 26 in all.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 81233, 812310 and 561740. 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, supplying laundered linens and uniforms on a rental or contract basis are classified in 81233 (Linen and Uniform Supply) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) providing drycleaning services (except coin- or card-operated); (2) providing laundering services (except linen and uniform supply or coin- or card-operated); (3) providing drop-off and pick-up sites for laundries and/or drycleaners; and (4) providing specialty cleaning services for specific types of garments and other textile items (except carpets and upholstery), such as fur, leather, or suede garments; wedding gowns; hats; draperies; and pillows. These establishments may provide all, a combination of, or none of the cleaning services on the premises.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Supplying laundered linens and uniforms on a rental or contract basis | 81233 Linen and Uniform Supply |
| Operating coin- or card-operated or similar self-service laundry or drycleaning facilities | 812310 Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
| Cleaning used carpets and upholstery | 561740 Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
Index entries (26)
- Agents, laundry and drycleaning
- Apparel pressing services
- Bobtailers, laundry and drycleaning
- Cleaners, drycleaning and laundry service (except coin-operated)
- Cleaning and dyeing plants (except rug cleaning plants)
- Collecting and distributing agents, laundry and drycleaning
- Curtain cleaning services
- Drapery cleaning services
- Drop-off and pick-up sites for laundries and drycleaners
- Drycleaner drop-off and pick-up sites
- Drycleaners (except coin-operated)
- Drycleaning plants (except rug cleaning plants)
- Drycleaning services (except coin-operated)
- Fur garment cleaning services
- Garment cleaning (e.g., fur, leather, suede) services
- Hand laundries
- Hat cleaning services
- Laundries (except coin-operated, linen supply, uniform supply)
- Laundry and drycleaning agents
- Laundry drop-off and pick-up sites
- Laundry services (except coin-operated, linen supply, uniform supply)
- Leather garment cleaning services
- Pick-up and drop-off sites for drycleaners and laundries
- Pillow cleaning services
- Power laundries, family
- Suede garment cleaning services