Manufacturers Sales Representatives – Industry Analysis, Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts

SIC 8742 | NAICS 425120

The following guide to industry research and analysis provides sources for industry statistics, trends, and forecasts, financial ratios, salary surveys, and more.

See the following sections listed below to view available resources by category:

Industry Analysis, Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts

Financial Statements and Financial Ratios

Compensation and Salary Surveys

BV Guides and Databases

For guides to other industries, see our index of over 400 industries.

Industry Analysis, Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts

Wholesale Trade Agents & Brokers (view report)

Comprehensive industry research reports provide in-depth industry analysis and five-year forecasts, with special focus on the underlying structure and external forces and relationships that affect industries and their performance. Topics addressed in the reports include:

Market size and major product and service segments
Key industry statistics, trends, and financial ratios
Operating conditions and current performance
Competitive landscape and environment
Major company profiles and market shares
Five-year outlook and growth forecasts

Sample industry research report and selected industry statistics including market size, five-year average growth rate, number of businesses, and total employment are available free online.

Manufacturers’ Agents National Association
Agency Sales Magazine
https://asm.manaonline.org/

Monthly publication provides news and information for manufacturers' representatives and principals, with topics covered in each issue including management tips, market data and trends, agent profiles, legal bulletins, and tax issues. Selected articles and introductory excerpts from current and archived issues of this publication can be viewed free online, with membership required to access full articles.

Manufacturers' Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry
MAFSI Commercial Foodservice Market Forecast
https://www.mafsi.org/

Annual market forecast details expected changes in sales, quotation, and consultant activities for the North American foodservice market by product category (e.g., equipment, supply, tabletop, furniture, janitorial/sanitation), equipment sub-category (e.g., primary cooking, refrigeration/ice machines, food preparation, serving, storage and handling, warewashing, ventilation), and end-user market segment.

Association of Independent Manufacturers/Representatives, Inc.
AIM/R Rep Profile
https://www.aimr.net/

Biennial survey provides benchmarking information for AIM/R-member representative agencies, with data provided in the study including type of ownership, number of years in business, average annual sales, number of lines represented, percentage of sales generated by five largest lines, total number of employees and outside sales personnel, compensation structure, and employee benefits provided.

Manufacturer Representatives Educational Research Foundation
Operations Manual for Manufacturer Representatives Firms, Third Edition
https://www.iuniverse.com/

Comprehensive resource guide covers various aspects of operating a manufacturers' representative firm, with topics covered including organization and general principles, administration and operations, managing agency personnel, sales management, and international representation. Table of contents and selected pages from the guide can be previewed online via Amazon.com's "Look Inside" feature.

BizMiner Market Analysis Reports
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
https://www.bizminer.com Search for "425120" to see available reports

Market analysis reports provide industry statistics for a user-defined area on a national, state, county, metro area, or zip code level, with data provided including number of companies, market volume and sales trends, average company sales, sales per employee, staffing and employment trends, average employee wage, and business start up activity and failure rates. Sample report can be viewed online.

More industry research reports»

Financial Statements and Financial Ratios

BizMiner Industry Financial Ratios
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
https://www.bizminer.com Search for "425120" to see available reports

Five-year financial statement analysis reports provide income statements, balance sheets, and key industry financial ratios for companies of all sizes, with financial data available by sales size range on a national, state, and metropolitan area level including:

Income and expenses in dollars and percentages
Balance sheets in dollars and percentages
Profitability and return on investment ratios
Liquidity and working capital ratios
Asset turnover and efficiency ratios
Capital structure and debt service ratios

Sample financial ratio analysis can be viewed free online.

IBISWorld Research Reports
Industry Financial Ratios
(see links for individual reports)

Key statistics section of these reports provides detailed income statements and balance sheets on a common-size basis and an array of industry financial ratios, with the financial ratio data presented on an annual basis for the four most recent years for which data is available and on a historical average basis over three-year, five-year, and ten-year time periods. Sample report can be viewed free online.

Manufacturers' Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry

MAFSI Rep Firm Benchmarking Survey
https://www.mafsi.org/
Benchmarking survey allows users to compare their firm with other foodservice representative firms, with measures provided by the survey including annual sales, annual gross agency sales, number of lines, number of employees and inside versus outside sales personnel, representative compensation programs and healthcare benefits, average commission rate, and representative firm expense ratios.

More financial benchmarking data»

Compensation and Salary Surveys

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
https://www.bls.gov/oes/

Annual wage survey provides hourly and annual wage data on a national, state, and local area basis
for personnel employed by firms which act as agents for manufacturers in selling their products on a wholesale trade basis to businesses and other organizations without taking title or possession of the goods, and receive commissions or fees from these manufacturers in return for selling their products.

PayScale, Inc.
Manufacturer's Representatives
https://www.payscale.com/

Free online service provides salary, bonus, and hourly wage data for manufacturer's representatives who act as agents for manufacturers in selling their goods on a wholesale trade basis to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations without taking title or possession of these goods, and receive commissions or other types of fees from the manufacturers in return for selling their products.

More compensation surveys»

BV Guides and Databases

BVMarketData

» Search M&A databases with free "Visitor Search" to find private company sales transaction data.

Manufacturers’ Agents National Association
Special Reports
https://marketplace.mimeo.com/manastore

Special reports available from this trade association focused on valuing and selling a firm or a part of a firm include "Valuing the Rep Firm", "Selling Part of Your Rep Firm to Your Employees or Partners and How to Safely Buy It Back", and "Valuation And Sale of an Entire Manufacturers' Sales Agency". Table of contents and other selected pages from these special reports can be previewed free online.

Manufacturer Representatives Educational Research Foundation
Operations Manual for Manufacturer Representatives Firms, Third Edition
https://www.iuniverse.com/

Subject headings in "Section 2: Administration and Operations" of the manual include "Valuation of a Representative Firm: Overview", "Valuation of a Representative Firm: Types & Taxes", and "Merging, Buying, or Selling a Representative Firm". Detailed table of contents, introduction and other selected excerpts, and searchable text can be previewed free online via Amazon.com's "Look Inside" feature.

More valuation data»