A new National Restaurant Association data brief finds restaurant ownership in the U.S. continues to outpace the broader private sector in diversity across race, gender and background.
According to the report, 49 percent of restaurant businesses are owned by minorities, compared with 38 percent of businesses overall. Asian- and Hispanic-owned restaurants each account for 18 percent of operators, while 16 percent are Black- or African American-owned—each group representing a larger share than in the private sector at large.
The industry also shows stronger representation among women owners. Half of restaurant firms are at least 50 percent women-owned, versus 44 percent across all U.S. businesses. Within that group, 41 percent are majority owned by women.
Additional findings highlight the accessibility of restaurant ownership:
- 36 percent of operators were born outside the U.S.
- 29 percent are under age 45.
- 33 percent have a high school diploma or less.
- 4 percent are veteran-owned businesses.
The report also notes that every state with available data shows a higher rate of minority restaurant ownership compared with other industries, with states such as Hawaii, Texas and California among those with the largest shares.
Overall, the findings reinforce the restaurant industry’s role as an accessible entry point to entrepreneurship, with ownership opportunities spanning a wide range of demographic groups.