459210 Book Retailers and News Dealers

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new books, newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals (without publishing).

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Retailing used books (including used rare books), newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals are classified in Industry 459510, Used Merchandise Retailers.
• Publishing books, newspapers, and periodicals are classified in Industry Group 5131, Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers.
• Streaming audio books, news, and periodical content without publishing are classified in Industry 516210, Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers.
• Independently authoring books and other written works and acting as their own publisher are classified in Industry 711510, Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 459210

The Census index assigns these 8 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Book clubs, not publishing, new books, mail-order
• Book stores
• Comic book stores
• Home delivery newspaper routes, direct selling
• Magazine stands (i.e., permanent)
• News dealers
• Newsstands (i.e., permanent)
• Religious book stores

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 459210

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 459210, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $36 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 4761, 4791, 4781, 4782, 4789, 4799), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 47610Retail sale of books in specialised storesUK SIC
• 47810Retail sale via stalls and markets of food, beverages and tobacco productsUK SIC
• 47820Retail sale via stalls and markets of textiles, clothing and footwearUK SIC
• 47890Retail sale via stalls and markets of other goodsUK SIC
• 47910Retail sale via mail order houses or via InternetUK SIC
• 47990Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or marketsUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.