Find clients for your agency in San Francisco
The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont metro area counts 16,663 local businesses of the kinds agencies sell websites, SEO and ads to. The biggest groups: 5,136 full-service restaurants, 2,990 real estate agents and brokers and 2,924 remodelers. 328 advertising agencies compete for them.
The local businesses agencies sell to in San Francisco
Counts of establishments by trade in the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont metro area, per 10,000 residents, against the median of the 50 largest US metro areas.
| Trade | Businesses | Per 10,000 residents | vs median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nail salons | 923 | 2.0 | +93% |
| Remodelers | 2,924 | 6.3 | +67% |
| Full-service restaurants | 5,136 | 11.1 | +52% |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 2,990 | 6.5 | +31% |
| Electricians | 1,162 | 2.5 | +10% |
| Auto repair shops | 1,147 | 2.5 | +5% |
| Hair and beauty salons | 1,189 | 2.6 | at the median |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,192 | 2.6 | −17% |
Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023; population 4,630,041 (Census Bureau estimate, July 2025). Counts change as businesses open and close.
Where San Francisco stands out
- Nail salons: 2.0 per 10,000 residents, 93% above the median of the 50 largest US metro areas (rank 5 of 50).
- Remodelers: 6.3 per 10,000 residents, 67% above the median (rank 5).
- Plumbing and HVAC contractors: scarcer here (17% below the median), so fewer prospects, each with fewer rivals.
- Competition: 328 advertising agencies for 133,246 businesses of all kinds, one for every 406. The median across the 50 largest US metro areas is one for every 512, so San Francisco ranks 40 of 50 on businesses per agency (1 is the least crowded): a crowded agency market, where niching on one trade and leading with proof wins.
How San Francisco compares with nearby and similar cities
Of these 7 cities, Seattle has the most of these businesses per resident and San Jose the most businesses per agency.
| City | Local businesses | Per 10,000 residents | Businesses per agency | Strongest trade, vs median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 16,663 | 36 | 406 | Nail salons (+93%) |
| San Diego | 11,608 | 35 | 350 | Real estate agents and brokers (+82%) |
| Sacramento | 7,380 | 30 | 651 | Nail salons (+77%) |
| San Jose | 6,338 | 32 | 868 | Nail salons (+65%) |
| Detroit | 10,117 | 23 | 492 | Auto repair shops (at the median) |
| Seattle | 15,358 | 37 | 571 | Remodelers (+83%) |
| Minneapolis | 11,543 | 30 | 370 | Remodelers (+45%) |
Your first three lists in San Francisco
- Full-service restaurants: 5,136 businesses, 52% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 1 of 50).
- Remodelers: 2,924 businesses, 67% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 5 of 50).
- Real estate agents and brokers: 2,990 businesses, 31% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 18 of 50).
How to work a list, from the "No website" filter to the first call: LeadsIt for agencies.
Frequently asked questions
How many local businesses can an agency prospect in San Francisco?
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 counts 16,663 establishments in the trades on this page in the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont metro area, including 5,136 full-service restaurants, 2,990 real estate agents and brokers and 2,924 remodelers.
How many marketing agencies are there in San Francisco?
328 advertising agencies in the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont metro area (US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023), one for every 406 businesses, against a median of one for every 512 across the 50 largest US metro areas.
Which trade should an agency target first in San Francisco?
By volume, full-service restaurants (5,136). Relative to its size, San Francisco stands out most on nail salons: 2.0 per 10,000 residents, rank 5 of 50.