NAICS 712110 Quarterly Industry Report
Museums
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 712110Sector: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 712110 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[8], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[7], and the Small Business Administration[9]. Our research team analyzes visitation counts, earned revenue ratios, and contributed income patterns to build valuation benchmarks for museum operations. This report on NAICS 712110 is updated quarterly to reflect attendance trends and funding availability.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the museums industry.
NAICS Sector
71
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Industry Definition & Overview
Museums (NAICS 712110) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the preservation and exhibition of objects of historical, cultural, or educational value. This includes art museums, history museums, natural history museums, science and technology museums, children's museums, and general-purpose museums that maintain permanent collections, host traveling exhibitions, and offer educational programming to public visitors.
Most museums operate as nonprofit organizations funded by a combination of admissions revenue, membership fees, gift shop and food service sales, government grants, foundation support, corporate sponsorships, and endowment income. Large urban museums may generate tens of millions in annual revenue, while small community museums often operate on budgets under $500,000 with part-time staff and volunteer support. Capital campaigns fund building expansions, gallery renovations, and major collection acquisitions. Revenue diversification through event rentals, traveling exhibition fees, and digital content licensing has grown across the sector.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services[5] provides federal grants and compiles national museum survey data. Most Census Bureau[6] tracks museum revenue within the arts and recreation sector. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[7] reports employment for curators, archivists, museum technicians, and educators. Major museum concentrations exist in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston, though every state supports museums serving local communities and regional audiences. Attendance patterns are seasonal, with summer and holiday periods generating peak visitation.
What's Included in This Industry
- Art museum collection management and exhibition
- Natural history and science museum operations
- History and cultural heritage museum programming
- Children's and interactive science center exhibits
- Traveling exhibition development and hosting
- Museum membership and annual fund management
- Educational program delivery for schools and adults
- Conservation and artifact preservation services
- Gift shop and food service retail operations
- Facility rental for private events and functions
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 71 |
| Subsector | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 712 |
| Industry Group | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 7121 |
| NAICS Industry | Museums | 71211 |
| National Industry | Museums | 712110 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 712120 | Historical Sites | Historical sites share heritage preservation missions with museums and often collaborate on exhibitions featuring regional and national history |
| 712130 | Zoos and Botanical Gardens | Zoos and botanical gardens compete for family leisure spending and share nonprofit fundraising models with museums in the same markets |
| 712190 | Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions | Nature parks and similar institutions offer outdoor educational experiences that complement indoor museum programming for school groups |
| 519210 | Libraries and Archives | Libraries and archives provide research collections that museum curators use for exhibition development and scholarly publication projects |
| 611310 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | Colleges and universities house teaching museums and partner with independent museums on research, internships, and joint exhibitions |
| 541410 | Interior Design Services | Interior and exhibition design firms create the gallery layouts, interactive displays, and interpretive installations that museums commission |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 9.3% | 509 |
| 2 | New York | 8.4% | 460 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.6% | 361 |
| 4 | Florida | 4.5% | 245 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 4.2% | 229 |
| 6 | Ohio | 3.6% | 197 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 3.2% | 175 |
| 8 | Illinois | 3.1% | 168 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 2.7% | 149 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 2.6% | 144 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
56
Total SBA Loans
$23.4M
Total Loan Volume
$419K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.24%
Average Interest Rate
424
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard[10] for NAICS 712110 is $34 million in average annual receipts, classifying museums below this revenue threshold as small businesses for federal programs. Private museums can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for exhibition development, technology, and working capital, while SBA 504 loans[12] support building acquisition and renovation. Most museums outside major national institutions qualify as small businesses under the receipts measure.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 16 | $5.5M | $343K |
| 2 | ACC Capital | 8 | $4.7M | $593K |
| 3 | PNC Bank, National Association | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
| 3 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
| 5 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 8 | $3.6M | $450K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of establishments fall under NAICS 712110?
NAICS 712110 covers institutions preserving and exhibiting collections. This includes art museums, natural history museums, science centers, children's museums, history museums, and general-purpose museums with permanent and traveling exhibitions.
How is NAICS 712110 different from 712120?
NAICS 712110 covers museums that collect and exhibit objects in indoor gallery settings, while 712120 covers historical sites that preserve and interpret significant buildings, landscapes, and outdoor locations. Museums house collections; sites preserve places, per Census Bureau classifications[13].
What is the SBA size standard for museums?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 712110 at $34 million in average annual receipts. Museums below this threshold qualify as small businesses for federal programs, per the SBA size standards table[10].
What NAICS codes are related to museums?
Related codes include 712120 (historical sites), 712130 (zoos and gardens), 712190 (nature parks), 519210 (libraries), 611310 (colleges), and 541410 (exhibition design). Each connects through heritage, education, or visitor experience.
What industries are closely related to museums?
Closely related industries include historical sites (712120), zoos (712130), libraries (519210), universities (611310), and exhibition design (541410) as programming and content partners.
What activities are included in museum operations?
Activities include collection management, exhibition curation, educational programming, conservation, membership campaigns, gift shop operations, event rental, and digital content production. The IMLS[5] provides federal grant support and museum statistics.
Can museums get SBA loans?
Where are museums concentrated in the United States?
Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston host the largest museum clusters. Every state capital and most mid-sized cities support at least one major museum, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[14]. Rural areas often maintain small historical and community museums.
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]Institute of Museum and Library Services imls.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [9]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [10]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [13]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [14]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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