Retail Trade Industry
Industry Overview
The store retail industry includes motor vehicle and parts dealers; clothing and clothing accessories stores; food and beverage stores; and gasoline stores. In 2023, foreign direct investment contributed $198.6 billion to the store retail industry, including $74.9 billion in food and beverage stores; $60 billion in health and personal care stores; and $25.6 billion in clothing and clothing accessory stores. In 2022, total employment by foreign-owned businesses in the store retail industry reached over 1 million employees.
The nonstore retail industry includes electronic shopping, vending machine operators, and direct selling establishments. In 2022, there were 90,991 establishments in this industry.
Franchising has provided business opportunities in the United States for more than 150 years. The model is widely embraced because it provides an established plan for business expansion and a means of spreading risk. Franchising also offers assistance and support for new business owners by passing on a proven business model, along with training and support, advertising programs, and accounting and payroll management.
Franchising offers products and services in over 300 business categories, including food and beverage, lodging, health and educational services, professional services, auto care, accounting and tax services, real estate, home services, IT services and retail products. As a leading job creator in both the U.S. and abroad, franchising continues to prosper in markets all over the world, no matter their level of development or sophistication.
Learn about the more than 20 federal agencies and relevant bureaus that comprise the IIWG.
The Investor Guide is a high-level view of everything from taxes to immigration and workforce to business structures.
SelectUSA has created several dashboards to help analyze key FDI data from a variety of sources.