The 20 Most Profitable Small Businesses

If you are trying to decide who to target for small business lending, here is your top-twenty list based on data from Sageworks, a Raleigh, N.C.-based accounting consultancy and private-company data provider.

By average pretax margin, 2003 - 2010

1. Offices of Certified Public Accountants 16.5%

2. Offices of Chiropractors: 15.3%

3. Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers: 15%

4. Other Accounting Services: 14.9%

5. Offices of Dentists: 14.7%

6. Tax Preparation Services: 14.7%

7. Offices of Orthodontists: 14.4%

8. Offices of Lawyers: 13.4%

9. Sales Financing: 13.3%

10. Portfolio Management: 12.2%

11. Drilling Oil And Gas Wells: 12%

12. Offices of Optometrists: 11.5%

13. Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Mini-warehouses): 11.3%

14. Offices of Real Estate Appraisers: 11%

15. Lessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units: 11%

16. Insurance Agencies and Brokerages: 11%

17. Other Activities Related To Credit Intermediation: 10.7%

18. Investment Advice: 10.7%

19. Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists: 10.6%

20. Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists): 10.4%

For more details, read the article.