Hit Business Ideas

Coffee shops and snack bars / Montana

How many coffee shops and snack bars are in Montana?

The Census Bureau counted 427 coffee shops and snack bars with paid employees in Montana in 2023. That is 34.3% more than in 2017.

MONTANA · 2023

The count

427

coffee shops and snack bars with paid employees

Employees
4,010
Average per site
9.4
Change since 2017
+34.3%
State rank
43 of 51

What the number means

Montana had 427 coffee shops and snack bars in 2023, ranking number 43 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Together they employed 4,010 people and paid $73 million in annual payroll, an average of 9.4 employees per site.

These businesses make up 1.00% of every employer establishment in Montana, close to the 1.02% national share. A site count is not the same as the number of companies: a chain with 40 locations counts 40 times.

40% of coffee shops and snack bars in Montana have fewer than 5 employees, against 33% across the U.S.

Montana holds 0.5% of the nation's coffee shops and snack bars and 0.5% of all U.S. employer establishments, so, measured against the state's overall size, the trade is about as common as in the country as a whole. The most common size class is under 5 employees (171 sites). Average payroll per employee is $18,083, against $21,205 for the U.S. trade.

Size of the businesses

Coffee shops and snack bars in Montana by number of employees, 2023
Employees per siteShareSitesShare
Under 517140.0%
5 to 910324.1%
10 to 1910023.4%
20 to 494811.2%
50 to 9951.2%
100 to 24900.0%
250 to 49900.0%

Count since 2017

1002017201920222023Montana 134U.S. 131

Index: 2017 = 100. Employer establishments only. 2017 count 318; 2019 count 319; 2022 count 404; 2023 count 427. Employment +71.3% since 2017.

Biggest other trades in Montana

TradeSitesEmployeesSince 2017
Full-service restaurants1,06020,162−3.7%
Plumbing and HVAC contractors7124,448+18.1%
Landscaping services6942,435+30.5%
Janitorial services5093,729+40.6%
Child day care4883,364+7.0%
General auto repair4861,971+16.0%
Beauty salons224768+21.7%
Fitness centers2153,058+25.0%

Coffee shops and snack bars in nearby ranks

All states for coffee shops and snack bars · Every trade in Montana

Questions

How many coffee shops and snack bars are in Montana?

The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 427 coffee shops and snack bars with paid employees in Montana in 2023. That ranks Montana number 43 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Is the number of coffee shops and snack bars in Montana growing?

Between 2017 and 2023 the count grew (34.3%), from 318 to 427. Across the United States the count changed by +31.0% over the same period. These years include the 2020 pandemic.

Does this count include self-employed owners with no staff?

No. County Business Patterns covers establishments with at least one paid employee. A sole proprietor with no employees is counted in a separate Census series called Nonemployer Statistics, which this site does not use yet, so the real number of people working in this trade is higher than the figure shown.

Read this before using the number

These counts describe how many businesses already exist. They say nothing about demand, profit, competition near you or how much any owner earns, and we make no estimate of income. Check local licensing, costs and rules before acting on any figure here. See the disclaimer.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.