NO.1 Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services
The net profit margin for this industry reached 19.8%, higher than last year's 16.3%. Accounting and similar industries are businesses that can maintain continuous profitability because they have high demand while daily expenses and equipment costs are quite low.
NO.2 Legal Services
Law firms and other legal service companies are similar to the accounting industry, as both corporate giants and ordinary individuals have a continuous demand for them. Their operating costs are also relatively low, as most expenses are used to retain knowledgeable professional staff rather than investing in equipment or tools. Legal services topped the list last year with a net profit margin of 18.3%, and this year's net profit margin is 17.8%.
NO.3 Oil and Gas Extraction
Due to the United States increasing its production of crude oil and shale gas to reduce dependence on imports, this industry has developed rapidly in the U.S. The industry ranks third on the list, just like last year, with its net profit margin rising from 15.1% to 16.4%.
NO.4 Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental
The net profit margin in this field rose from 13.4% to 16.4% within a year, although it was still tied for third on the 2014 list. The increase in residential and industrial construction has boosted the demand for mechanical tools, allowing this industry to benefit.
NO.5 Dentists
Everyone goes to the dentist twice a year, right? Seriously, the demand for dentists is high, and like other healthcare industries, this sector will see increasing demand as the Affordable Care Act is implemented and the number of patients with health insurance grows. The net profit margin for this industry rose from 12.7% last year to 14.9% this year.
NO.6 Real Estate Leasing
Real estate leasing is tied for sixth place with two other fields, with its net profit margin rising from 10.4% last year to 14.1%. As the economic situation improves, the housing market is also warming up, which means landlords will be busier and can increase rental prices.
NO.7 Physicians
Physicians also rose to a tie for sixth place this year, with the net profit margin rising from 12.2% last year to 14.1%. Again, for most people, seeing a doctor is an indispensable part of daily life and is considered a routine expense, which means this industry can maintain stable profits. Moreover, as more Americans have health insurance, physicians will see more patients.
NO.8 Real Estate Agents and Brokers
It is not surprising that another real estate-related field appears among the three industries tied for 6th place, all with a net profit margin of 14.1%. Due to the recent real estate market boom and rising rental prices, real estate agents and brokers, like landlords, have benefited, which has led to an increase in the net profit margin for this field from 11.6% last year.
NO.9 Other Health Practitioners
This field has a net profit margin of 12.6%, once again proving that all aspects of the medical industry can achieve considerable profits. The net profit margin for this field last year was 12.5%.
NO.10 Management Companies
Although privately held management companies and holding companies were not on the list last year, they achieved a net profit margin of 12.6% this year.
NO.11 Outpatient Care Centers
This is the only medical sector on the Sageworks list to see a decline in net profit margin, falling from 4th place last year to 11th this year. However, compared to last year's 13.8% net profit margin, privately operated outpatient care centers still have a net profit margin of 11.7% this year, and data shows that the number of outpatient visits continues to increase.
NO.12 Other Schools and Training Institutions
Despite the need to spend more on teaching staff and maintenance, private schools and other training institutions are clearly able to leverage economic growth to achieve greater profits. This industry did not make the top 15 list last year, but it achieved a net profit margin of 11.3% this year.
NO.13 Real Estate-Related Activities
Real estate again. The real estate market has recovered from the bubble burst in 2007, and all related industries have begun to profit significantly. This sub-sector was not on the list last year, and its net profit margin this year is 10.8%.
NO.14 Funeral Services
Apparently, no industry is as creepily and consistently stable as the funeral services industry. This industry made the list with a net profit margin of 10.7%. Although this industry lacks repeat customers (sorry!), the increase in the U.S. population has turned it into a rapidly growing industry.
NO.15 Mining Support Activities
The recent slowdown in global mining growth has affected its sub-sectors, with the net profit margin for mining support activities falling from 12% last year to 10.5% this year. However, mining support activities, including core sampling and geological surveys, are clearly not as severely affected as other sub-sectors because their operating costs are lower, unlike those miners who have to spend a lot of money on equipment and energy.