Merced, CA

Business Ideas & Market Opportunities

The Merced market is currently outpacing the national growth rate. Our analysis identifies 25 active sectors where local supply has not yet met the demand indicated by the national baseline.

Active Local Businesses

4,298

Total Competition Pool

Market Size

286K

Total Metro Population

5-Year Growth Rate

+15.8%

🔥 Outpacing US(+0.1% avg)

Underserved Sectors

53

Niches with LQ < 0.8

Analyst Tip

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Showing 20 of 88 opportunities

Tobacco Stores

Growth
+180.0%
Scale
$72K PAY
Saturation
1.63
14 establishments

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload

Growth
+177.4%
Scale
$198K PAY
Saturation
3.56
86 establishments

General Freight Trucking, Local

Growth
+174.4%
Scale
$95K PAY
Saturation
5.70
107 establishments

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Growth
+166.7%
Scale
$44K PAY
Saturation
0.36
16 establishments

New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders)

Growth
+116.7%
Scale
$194K PAY
Saturation
1.62
39 establishments

Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners

Growth
+100.0%
Scale
$3831.0M REV
Saturation
0.93
80 establishments

Mobile Food Services

Growth
+100.0%
Scale
$43K PAY
Saturation
2.82
14 establishments

Finish Carpentry Contractors

Growth
+83.3%
Scale
$174K PAY
Saturation
0.83
11 establishments

Child Care Services

Growth
+73.9%
Scale
$288K PAY
Saturation
1.18
40 establishments

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers

Growth
+67.9%
Scale
$115K PAY
Saturation
0.68
47 establishments

Child and Youth Services

Growth
+66.7%
Scale
$705K PAY
Saturation
1.51
10 establishments

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists

Growth
+61.5%
Scale
$478K PAY
Saturation
0.97
21 establishments

All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Tobacco Stores)

Growth
+57.1%
Scale
$228K PAY
Saturation
1.09
11 establishments

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance

Growth
+57.1%
Scale
$745K PAY
Saturation
5.40
22 establishments

Residential Remodelers

Growth
+52.4%
Scale
$214K PAY
Saturation
1.14
64 establishments

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local

Growth
+48.6%
Scale
$460K PAY
Saturation
4.68
55 establishments

Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors

Growth
+46.7%
Scale
$1.8M PAY
Saturation
2.38
22 establishments

Residential Property Managers

Growth
+45.5%
Scale
$208K PAY
Saturation
1.25
32 establishments

Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings

Growth
+40.0%
Scale
$137K PAY
Saturation
1.87
14 establishments

Wired Telecommunications Carriers

Growth
+40.0%
Scale
$635K PAY
Saturation
1.27
14 establishments

Analyst Insights & Due Diligence

Administrative data provides the map, but not the terrain. We recommend three specific validation steps for Merced:

1

Demographic Fit

Does the local population age or income level explain the "Supply Gaps"? (e.g., A gap in luxury services may be due to lower local income).

2

Regulatory Check

Verify local licensing requirements. High barriers to entry often protect "High Yield" sectors from new competition.

3

Competitor Health

Investigate the "Momentum" sectors. Are existing businesses thriving, or is the growth due to high turnover and failure rates?