423490 - Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
When it comes to understanding the intricacies of the wholesale trade industry, NAICS Code 423490 plays a crucial role. Known as Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers, this classification encapsulates a diverse range of businesses that distribute specialized professional equipment and supplies. Whether you're a government contractor, supplier, or industry analyst, knowing this NAICS code is essential for market identification and opportunity exploration.
What is NAICS Code 423490?
NAICS Code 423490 includes establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of professional equipment and supplies that do not fit into other more specific categories within the North American Industry Classification System. This industry addresses a broad spectrum of specialized products used by professionals across multiple fieldsâfrom scientific laboratories to architectural firms.
Sector Overview: Wholesale Trade
This NAICS code falls under the Wholesale Trade sector (Sector 42). Businesses classified under 423490 act as intermediaries, selling professional and scientific supplies in bulk to various end-users including:
- Laboratories
- Architectural firms
- Educational institutions
- Religious organizations
- Veterinary clinics
These merchant wholesalers donât typically manufacture the products themselves but focus on distribution, inventory management, and customer service.
Typical Business Activities Under NAICS 423490
Businesses operating in this category often engage in:
- Wholesale distribution of analytical instruments such as chromatographs, spectrographs, and photometers.
- Supplying architectsâ equipment including drafting tables and instruments.
- Distributing laboratory balances and scales (except dental or medical).
- Providing scientific laboratory equipment and professional furniture.
- Offering religious supplies like vestments and church goods.
- Supplying surveying equipment and teaching machines (non-electronic).
Size Standards for NAICS 423490
For small business classification by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the size standard for NAICS 423490 is typically:
- Maximum of 150 employees
This means businesses with 150 or fewer employees qualify as small businesses under this code, making them eligible for various federal contracting preferences and programs.
Examples of Businesses Under NAICS 423490
Some common business types classified under this NAICS code include:
- Medical equipment wholesalers: Distributing specialized medical devices and professional healthcare supplies (excluding dental and ophthalmic equipment).
- Laboratory supply wholesalers: Providing equipment and consumables used in chemical, biological, or physical labs.
- Professional photographic equipment wholesalers: Supplying cameras and related devices for other professional uses not classified elsewhere.
Detailed Code Breakdown Table
| Product/Service Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Analytical instruments merchant wholesalers | Chromatographic, photometers, spectrographs, etc. |
| Architects' equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers | Drafting instruments, drafting tables |
| Balances and scales, laboratory (excluding dental, medical) | Scales for lab use |
| Barometers merchant wholesalers | Instruments measuring atmospheric pressure |
| Blackboards merchant wholesalers | Chalkboards and similar products |
| Chemical and technical pottery products merchant wholesalers | Specialized pottery products |
| Church supplies merchant wholesalers | Religious supplies except plated or silverware |
| Drafting instruments merchant wholesalers | Precision drawing tools |
| Drafting tables merchant wholesalers | Work surfaces for technical drawings |
| Engineers' equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers | Tools for civil, mechanical engineers |
| Instruments, professional and scientific, merchant wholesalers | Scientific and precision instruments |
| Laboratory equipment merchant wholesalers | Lab devices (excluding dental, medical, ophthalmic) |
| Professional equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers | Misc. professional supplies |
| Professional furniture merchant wholesalers | Non-school, non-dental furniture |
| Professional instruments merchant wholesalers | Specialized instruments for various professions |
| Religious supplies merchant wholesalers | Vestments, statues, and other church-related items |
| Scales, laboratory (except dental and medical) | Lab weighing apparatus |
| School equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers | Non-book and furniture-related educational products |
| Scientific instruments merchant wholesalers | Precision scientific tools |
| Scientific laboratory equipment merchant wholesalers | Equipment used in labs |
| Smartboards merchant wholesalers | Interactive whiteboards |
| Statuary, religious, merchant wholesalers | Religious statues and decor |
| Surveying equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers | Tools for land and construction surveying |
| Teaching machines merchant wholesalers | Non-electronic teaching devices |
| Vestments, religious, merchant wholesalers | Clerical robes and garments |
| Veterinarians' equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers | Veterinary instruments and supplies |
| Wall maps merchant wholesalers | Maps used in professional settings |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What kind of products do wholesalers under NAICS 423490 distribute?
They distribute a broad variety of professional equipment and supplies such as scientific instruments, laboratory equipment, architectsâ tools, religious items, and educational supplies not categorized elsewhere.
How is NAICS 423490 different from other equipment wholesaler codes?
This code covers all professional equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers not classified under more specific categories like medical, dental, or ophthalmic equipment wholesalers.
What is the employee size limit for small business status in this NAICS code?
The SBAâs size standard for NAICS 423490 is 150 employees or fewer.
Can veterinary supply wholesalers be classified under NAICS 423490?
Yes, wholesalers distributing huntersâ veterinary equipment and supplies fall under this code.
Is manufacturing included under NAICS 423490?
No. This classification only covers merchant wholesalers, which means businesses primarily engaged in distribution, not manufacturing.
Conclusion
NAICS Code 423490 - Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers - represents an important slice of the wholesale trade industry. Covering a diverse range of professional and scientific equipment wholesalers, this industry supports many sectors by providing essential supplies that enable businesses and institutions to operate efficiently. Whether you're a small business owner looking to understand your size standards or a government contractor searching for suppliers, familiarizing yourself with NAICS 423490 is vital for success in the professional equipment wholesale landscape.
Optimize your business potential today by identifying your NAICS codes accurately and leveraging this insight for strategic growth in the wholesale trade sector.
