NAICS 485510 Quarterly Industry Report
Charter Bus Industry
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 485510Sector: 48Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry report for NAICS 485510 draws on charter transportation data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], employment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and small business lending benchmarks from the Small Business Administration[7]. Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 485510 profile to support valuation professionals assessing charter bus companies, motorcoach fleet operators, and group transportation businesses. Our research team updates this content quarterly to reflect fleet valuation trends and regulatory developments.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the charter bus industry industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Charter Bus Industry (NAICS 485510) encompasses establishments providing bus transportation on a charter or hired basis, where the entire vehicle is engaged by a single customer or group for a specific trip. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies these operations separately from scheduled intercity and urban transit services because charter trips are arranged on demand for specific groups rather than offered to the general public on fixed routes.
Charter bus operators serve a diverse customer base including corporate groups, sports teams, school field trips, church organizations, military units, wedding parties, and tour groups. Revenue comes from per-trip or hourly pricing that factors in distance, vehicle type, driver time, fuel costs, and tolls. Motorcoach fleets represent the primary equipment investment, with new vehicles costing between $500,000 and $700,000 depending on configuration and amenity level. Many operators maintain mixed fleets that include standard motorcoaches, mini-coaches for smaller groups, and specialty vehicles with strengthen entertainment systems.
Operating costs center on driver wages and benefits, fuel, vehicle maintenance, commercial auto insurance, and parking fees at destination venues. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations govern driver hours of service, vehicle inspection requirements, and operating authority. Seasonal demand fluctuations pose a persistent business challenge. Peak periods around graduation season, summer tourism, and fall sports create driver and equipment shortages, while winter months often bring sharp volume declines outside warm-weather markets.
What's Included in This Industry
- Group charter motorcoach service for corporate and organizational events
- Multi-day tour packages with driver and motorcoach
- School field trip and athletic team bus transportation
- Airport group transfer service for conventions and events
- Wedding and special event bus transportation
- Military unit movement and deployment transportation
- Church and religious group excursion bus service
- Casino shuttle and gaming destination charter trips
- Concert and festival group transportation packages
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | 485 |
| Industry Group | Charter Bus Industry | 4855 |
| NAICS Industry | Charter Bus Industry | 48551 |
| National Industry | Charter Bus Industry | 485510 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 485210 | Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation | Interurban bus service providing scheduled public transportation between cities on fixed routes, while 485510 provides chartered vehicles for private group trips |
| 485113 | Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems | Urban bus transit systems operating fixed-route public service, distinct from the on-demand group charter model that defines 485510 operations |
| 485410 | School and Employee Bus Transportation | School and employee bus transportation under contract for daily routes, contrasted with the per-trip charter model where entire vehicles are hired for specific events |
| 485320 | Limousine Service | Limousine service providing luxury vehicle transportation for smaller groups, while charter bus operations serve larger parties requiring motorcoach capacity |
| 485999 | All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | All other ground passenger transportation including shuttle and vanpool services that operate at smaller vehicle scales than the motorcoach operations of 485510 |
| 487110 | Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | Scenic and sightseeing rail excursions competing for the same tour and recreation market that charter bus operators serve with rubber-tire vehicles |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 15.4% | 173 |
| 2 | New York | 7.9% | 89 |
| 3 | Florida | 6.7% | 75 |
| 4 | Texas | 6.4% | 72 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 5.2% | 58 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 3.7% | 42 |
| 7 | Maryland | 3.6% | 40 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 3.6% | 40 |
| 9 | Virginia | 3.3% | 37 |
| 10 | Illinois | 3.1% | 35 |
% Of Establishments
0%
15%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
128
Total SBA Loans
$17.5M
Total Loan Volume
$137K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.43%
Average Interest Rate
1,264
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The Small Business Administration[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 485510 at $19 million in average annual receipts, measured over the preceding five completed fiscal years. Many charter bus operators are family-owned businesses with fleets of fewer than twenty vehicles that qualify as small businesses. Eligible firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for motorcoach purchases, fleet expansion, and working capital to manage seasonal revenue fluctuations. The SBA 504 loan program[9] supports real estate acquisition for bus storage yards, maintenance facilities, and office space. Federal contracting opportunities exist through military troop movement and government employee transportation programs.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 40 | $4.7M | $117K |
| 2 | PCB Bank | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
| 3 | TD Bank, National Association | 24 | $3.5M | $147K |
| 4 | The Huntington National Bank | 16 | $2.2M | $136K |
| 5 | Bank of America, National Association | 8 | $2.0M | $250K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 485510?
This code covers motorcoach companies that rent entire buses with drivers for group trips. Customers include corporate event planners, school districts booking field trips, tour operators, sports teams, wedding parties, church groups, and military units. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] distinguishes charter service from scheduled bus routes by the on-demand, group-hire nature of each trip.
How is charter bus service different from scheduled bus transportation?
Charter service under 485510 involves hiring an entire vehicle and driver for a specific group trip at a negotiated price. Scheduled service under 485210 operates on published timetables with individual ticket sales open to the public. Charter customers control the itinerary, departure times, and stops, while scheduled service follows predetermined routes. Some companies hold operating authority for both charter and scheduled service.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 485510?
The Small Business Administration sets the size standard at $19 million in average annual receipts over five years. Most charter bus companies fall well within this threshold, as the industry consists primarily of small and mid-size fleet operators. Details are in the SBA size standards table[10].
What NAICS codes are closely related to charter bus service?
Related codes include 485210 for scheduled intercity bus, 485113 for urban transit, 485410 for school and employee transportation, 485320 for limousine service, and 487110 for scenic rail excursions. Charter bus overlaps most directly with tour bus operations and school field trip service, where the same vehicles and drivers serve multiple market segments.
What industries are connected to charter bus operations?
Connected industries include travel agencies packaging bus tours, event planning companies coordinating group transportation, hotel and resort properties hosting bus tour guests, and sports venues managing team and fan transportation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], the broader transit and ground passenger sector supports an interconnected network of operators sharing equipment, labor, and maintenance resources.
What activities are included in NAICS 485510?
Included activities cover motorcoach charter for corporate events, multi-day sightseeing tours, school field trips, airport group transfers, wedding transportation, military unit movements, church excursions, casino shuttles, and concert transportation. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies all bus-for-hire operations where the entire vehicle is engaged by a single customer or organized group.
Can charter bus companies get SBA loans?
Charter operators under the $19 million revenue threshold can access SBA financing for fleet growth and operations. The 7(a) program[8] supports motorcoach purchases, maintenance equipment, and seasonal working capital. Industry 504 program[9] finances bus yard real estate and maintenance facility construction. These loans help small operators compete for government and corporate charter contracts.
Where are charter bus companies concentrated in the United States?
Charter operators cluster near major tourism destinations, convention centers, and population hubs that generate group travel demand. Florida, California, Texas, New York, and the greater Washington D.C. area support the highest concentrations of charter companies. National parks, gaming destinations, and coastal resort areas also sustain regional charter fleets serving tour group markets.
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. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]SBA 504 loan program sba.gov
- [10]SBA size standards table sba.gov
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