NAICS 444240 Quarterly Industry Report
Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 444240Sector: 44Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 444240 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[4], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and Small Business Administration[5] to profile the nursery, garden center, and farm supply retail sector. Our research team analyzes seasonal revenue patterns, perishable inventory economics, and the split between garden center and farm supply retail formats to provide accurate market intelligence for business valuation purposes. The report covers SBA size standards, related NAICS classifications, and the operational characteristics that distinguish living goods retailing from other retail sectors. Fair Market Value updates this NAICS 444240 profile quarterly to reflect new Census releases and industry developments.
Industry Definition & Overview
Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (NAICS 444240) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in retailing nursery and garden products such as trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs, and sod, as well as farm supplies including animal feed, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, and pesticides. Most products sold are sourced from growers and manufacturers rather than produced in-house, though retailers may grow a limited quantity of plants on premises. Garden centers range from seasonal pop-up operations to year-round destination retailers with greenhouses, landscaping services, and gift departments.
Farm supply stores serve agricultural producers and rural property owners with feed, fencing, livestock supplies, and crop inputs. Regional chains like Tractor Supply Company and locally owned cooperatives dominate the farm supply segment, while independent garden centers compete on plant quality, horticultural expertise, and curated product selection. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[4], this classification captures a diverse range of retail formats unified by their focus on living goods, growing supplies, and agricultural inputs.
The SBA[5] sets the size standard at $21.5 million in average annual receipts for this industry. Seasonal revenue concentration creates cash flow management challenges, with spring representing the peak selling period for garden centers. Farm supply stores experience more stable year-round demand driven by ongoing livestock feeding and crop production schedules. Perishability risk distinguishes this sector from other retail categories, as unsold plant inventory loses value rapidly and dead stock generates disposal costs rather than clearance revenue.
What's Included in This Industry
- Retail sale of trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants
- Retail sale of flower and vegetable seeds and bulbs
- Retail sale of sod, mulch, and soil amendments
- Retail sale of animal feed and livestock supplies
- Retail sale of fertilizers and lawn care products
- Retail sale of agricultural chemicals and pesticides
- Retail sale of fencing materials for agricultural use
- Garden center operations with greenhouse facilities
- Retail sale of outdoor pottery, planters, and garden decor
- Farm supply store operations serving agricultural producers
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | 444 |
| Industry Group | Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers | 4442 |
| NAICS Industry | Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers | 44424 |
| National Industry | Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers | 444240 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 444110 | Home Centers | Operates home centers retailing broad lines of home improvement products including seasonal garden departments, carrying narrower plant selections than dedicated garden centers |
| 444140 | Hardware Retailers | Retails general-line hardware items including garden hand tools, sharing seasonal lawn and garden product overlap with nursery and garden center retailers |
| 444230 | Outdoor Power Equipment Retailers | Retails outdoor power equipment including lawn mowers and garden tractors, sharing lawn care customer demographics with garden center and farm supply stores |
| 444180 | Other Building Material Dealers | Retails specialized building materials including fencing, sharing agricultural fencing product overlap with farm supply retailers in rural markets |
| 445110 | Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) | Operates supermarkets and grocery retailers that sometimes include floral departments and seasonal plant sales, overlapping with garden center product offerings |
| 459510 | Used Merchandise Retailers | Retails used merchandise including secondhand garden equipment and farm supplies, distinguished from this code which covers new products and living plant inventory |
SBA Lending Summary
720
Total SBA Loans
$325.6M
Total Loan Volume
$452K
Average Loan Size
12 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.96%
Average Interest Rate
6,392
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA[5] classifies NAICS 444240 under nursery, garden center, and farm supply retailers with a size standard of $21.5 million in average annual receipts. Businesses at or below this revenue threshold qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs. Retailers in this classification can access SBA 7(a) loans[7] for greenhouse construction, seasonal inventory buildup, and working capital during off-peak months. Firms purchasing retail or greenhouse properties may qualify for 504 loans[8]. Seasonal cash flow patterns and perishable inventory financing represent common capital needs that distinguish garden center lending from other retail categories.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 24 | $41.7M | $1.7M |
| 2 | TD Bank, National Association | 24 | $34.9M | $1.5M |
| 3 | Busey Bank | 24 | $26.0M | $1.1M |
| 4 | DFCU Financial | 16 | $24.0M | $1.5M |
| 5 | RiverBank | 8 | $18.6M | $2.3M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 444240?
NAICS 444240 covers retailers selling nursery stock, garden supplies, seeds, plants, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticides, and farm supplies. This includes garden centers, nursery retailers, farm supply stores, and agricultural cooperatives with retail operations. Source: U.S. Census Bureau[4]
How is NAICS 444240 structured?
The industry splits between garden center retailers focused on plants and growing supplies, and farm supply stores focused on animal feed, fencing, and agricultural inputs. Formats range from seasonal outdoor operations to year-round destination retailers with greenhouses, gift departments, and landscaping services.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 444240?
The SBA sets the size standard at $21.5 million in average annual receipts for nursery, garden center, and farm supply retailers. Businesses at or below this revenue level qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs. Source: SBA Size Standards[5]
What NAICS codes are related to nursery and garden center retailers?
Related retail codes include 444110 (home centers), 444140 (hardware retailers), 444230 (outdoor power equipment), 444180 (building materials), and 445110 (supermarkets with floral departments). Source: Census NAICS[4]
What industries are related to garden center and farm supply retailing?
Key supplier industries include 111421 (nursery and tree production), 111422 (floriculture production), 325320 (pesticide manufacturing), and 325314 (fertilizer manufacturing). Customer industries include 561730 (landscaping services). Source: Census NAICS[4]
What activities are included in NAICS 444240?
Activities include retailing trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs, sod, mulch, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticides, fencing materials, garden decor, pottery, and planters. Greenhouse operations and farm supply store operations are also included.
Can nursery and garden center retailers get SBA loans?
Yes, small businesses under NAICS 444240 can access SBA 7(a) loans for greenhouse construction, seasonal inventory, and working capital. Firms purchasing retail or greenhouse properties may qualify for 504 loans. Seasonal cash flow patterns make credit access particularly important. Source: SBA Loan Programs[9]
Where are nursery and garden center retailers concentrated in the United States?
Garden centers concentrate in suburban areas with established residential neighborhoods and active home gardening demographics. Farm supply stores cluster in agricultural regions across the Midwest, Southeast, and Great Plains. States with longer growing seasons, including California, Texas, and Florida, support year-round garden center operations.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]SBA sba.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [8]504 loans sba.gov
- [9]SBA Loan Programs sba.gov
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