Other Services (Except Public Administration)

NAICS 81 covers a residual but economically substantial category: personal services, repair and maintenance, religious and civic organizations, and private households employing domestic workers. The sector is defined by what it is not — services that do not fit neatly into healthcare, retail, hospitality, or professional services — yet it employs millions of workers and supports the daily functioning of households and communities across every U.S. state.

Personal care services form the most visible subsector. Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, and skin care establishments operate in nearly every ZIP code, with franchise systems like Great Clips, Sport Clips, and European Wax Center building national footprints alongside independent operators. State cosmetology licensing boards regulate practitioner credentials, with requirements varying from 1,000 to 2,300 training hours depending on the state — California and New York impose some of the most extensive requirements. The funeral services subsector is increasingly consolidated, with Service Corporation International (SCI) and Park Lawn Corporation operating hundreds of funeral homes and cemeteries, while the FTC's Funeral Rule mandates itemized pricing disclosures to consumers.

Repair and maintenance services — automotive, appliance, electronics, and equipment repair — operate in a market shaped by product durability and manufacturer warranty structures. The automotive aftermarket is anchored by chains like Meineke and Midas, though independent shops still capture the majority of repair volume. Right-to-repair legislation, advancing in states like Massachusetts and Colorado, is shifting the regulatory landscape by requiring manufacturers to provide diagnostic tools and parts to independent repair shops. Religious, civic, and professional membership organizations — including entities like the Rotary Club, YMCA, and local chambers of commerce — round out the sector, operating primarily as nonprofits under IRS 501(c) designations.