NAICS 446110

Independent Pharmacies in Novato, CA

The 2 ZIP codes assigned to Novato contained 6 Pharmacy establishments in 2023.

Establishments (2023)
6
2 ZIP codes
10 or more employees
n/a
Practical financing floor
Share of county
21%
Marin County
City population
51,947
2025 estimate

Figures cover the ZIP codes the U.S. Postal Service assigns to Novato (94945, 94949). ZIP areas are not municipal boundaries: they can extend beyond city limits and are shared between neighbouring places. This is a count of establishments in Novato's ZIP codes, not a count of businesses inside its city limits.

How this market compares

Novato against every other city in California on the same measure. City figures cover the ZIP codes assigned to the place rather than its municipal boundary, so they are compared as a share of the businesses in those same ZIP codes rather than per resident. Cities with fewer than 500 businesses in total are left unranked.

Typical0.32% of local businesses, against 0.35% statewide

About the same slice of the local business base as the industry holds statewide.

Vs state share
-10%
Share of local businesses
Rank by count
#158
of 293 cities
Rank by share
#175
of 266 ranked
Since 2020
+50%
Change in establishments

This compares how much of Novato’s business base is independent pharmacies, against the California figure. Base: 1,888 establishments across all industries in the same ZIP codes, 2023. It does not measure revenue, profitability or whether a market is worth entering.

Business size mix

Novato is more consolidated than California as a whole: fewer micro-operators and a larger share of businesses with real headcount. Fewer targets, but the ones that exist are more likely to be financeable.

Share of establishmentsNovatoCaliforniaDifference
Under 5 employeesOwner-operated, often no management layer0.0%10.8%-10.8%
5 to 49 employeesThe range most individual buyers target0.0%38.9%-38.9%
10 or more employeesPractical floor for acquisition financing0.0%27.7%-27.7%

Nearest comparable markets

The closest places to Novato that also have Pharmacy establishments on record. Useful for spotting a gap next door, or realising the market you are looking at is already served from the town over.

MarketEstablishmentsVs state share
San Anselmo3+62%
San Rafael8-28%
Mill Valley3-33%
Pinole3n/a
San Pablo5+75%

The wider Marin County market

Employment and payroll are reported at county level only, so the figures below describe the county Novato sits in.

County establishments (2023)
29
Marin County
County employees
693
Mid-March employment
County annual payroll
$49M
All establishments
Full Pharmacy data for Marin County

What acquirers look at

PBM reimbursement pressure has compressed margins for a decade. Compounding, long-term-care contracts and clinical services are what make one viable.

Other industries in Novato

Nearby cities

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 ZIP Code Business Patterns. Establishment counts and size distribution by ZIP code and NAICS, aggregated over the ZIP codes assigned to each city. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns. Establishment counts, employment and annual payroll by NAICS. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2026Q1). Quarterly establishment counts and employment for employers covered by unemployment insurance. Retrieved 2026-09-08.