This $117 billion U.S. business, which encompasses basic janitorial services, pest control, and other building maintenance, is huge but very competitive, comprised of mainly small operators, including 36,000 franchised outlets. Competitors run the gamut, from sole proprietors to giants such as ABM Industries with $6.5 billion in revenues. This is a low-investment business that’s easy to enter, and many do.

Speaking for pay is big business, especially for former presidents, sports figures, and other celebrities. There are an estimated 40,000 professional speakers in the United States, but not all work full-time.

Drug and alcohol addiction rehab in the United States is big business — worth $42 billion this year. There are now 15,000+ private treatment facilities and growing.

The total U.S. weight loss market is worth more than $72 billion, comprised of eight market segments: diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, health clubs, low-calorie diet entrees, meal replacement shakes and bars sold retail, commercial weight loss programs, medical programs (by MDs, hospitals and clinics, including surgery), and diet books. 

Meditation is becoming more mainstream in America, boosted by the popularity of experts like Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle. Meditation studios are appearing more often in major cities, and meditation classes are increasingly being offered in the workplace and college campuses to combat rising societal stress levels and to raise worker productivity and morale. Last year, 22% of employers were expected to offer mindfulness training.

The U.S. is the largest medical imaging market globally due to the high disposable income and health insurance of consumers. More than 630 million X-rays, CT & PET scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and mammographies are performed each year, representing an important part of the healthcare system.

Kidney dialysis is a life or death, crucial healthcare service that costs about $90,000 per year per patient. The large competitors have enjoyed a near monopoly for years, but changes are coming that could hamper that growth and profitability.

Physical therapy services provide a cost-effective way to prevent short-term disabilities from becoming chronic conditions, to help avoid invasive procedures, to speed recovery from surgery and musculoskeletal injuries and to eliminate or minimize the need for opioids.

The total weight loss market is now worth more than $72 billion, and a growing share of it takes place online and digitally. Technology and increased usage of the Internet and smartphones have changed the way Americans lose weight, and how they access weight loss programs. New companies like Noom have entered the market with apps in attempts to “disrupt” long-established players like Weight Watchers, NutriSystem, and Jenny Craig.

The total U.S. weight loss industry hit a new peak in 2018, growing 4% to $72 billion. The largest diet companies are shifting direction and changing ownership as Weight Watchers rebrands itself to its new name WW and focuses more on wellness, Jenny Craig is up for sale, NutriSystem gets acquired by Tivity Health, and Slim-Fast is acquired by Glanbia, a multilevel marketing firm.