IBISWorld Platform
Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.
Debt Collection Agencies in the US Industry Data and Analysis
Debt collection agencies have moved through a volatile cycle, marked by an initial pandemic-era contraction and a delayed rebound tied to rising delinquencies and higher debt‑servicing costs. As fiscal stimulus, loan forbearance and ultra‑low interest rates temporarily suppressed placements, agencies saw revenue weaken before activity accelerated in 2023 as inflation and normalizing rates pushed more accounts into arrears. Rising household leverage, particularly in credit cards, medical bills and student loans, expanded the pool of collectible accounts even as more borrowers struggled to keep up with payments. These pressures have lengthened recovery timelines on individual accounts but increased total placements, supporting broader volume growth for agencies. In turn, industry revenue has been sinking at a 1.1% CAGR over the past five years but is projected to climb 6.1% in 2026 to $16.1 billion as delinquency-driven placements continue to accelerate.
Access this data your way
The Debt Collection Agencies in the US Industry analysis is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.
API Data Delivery
Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.
Integrations
Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.
What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released November 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 56144. The Debt Collection Agencies industry comprises businesses that pursue payments on debts owed by individuals and companies. Most collection agencies operate as agents of creditors and charge a fee or a percentage of the total amount owed. Other agencies purchase debt portfolios from creditors at a discount and then pursue outstanding balances for their gain. Related terms covered in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States include nonrevolving credit, revolving credit, skip tracing, collectivity rate, primary placement, secondary placement, tertiary placement and accounts receivable.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States include Intensive collections services, Standard collections services and Early‑Stage collections services.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States include Encore Capital Group, Inc. and Alorica Inc.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States.
Trusted by industry professionals
More than 6,000 businesses use IBISWorld to shape local and global economies
We were able to supplement our reports with IBISWorld’s information from both a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. All of our reporting now features some level of IBISWorld integration.
IBISWorld delivers the crisp business knowledge we need to drive our business. Whether it be serving up our major clients, winning new business or educating on industry issues, IBISWorld brings real value.
IBISWorld has revolutionised business information — which has proved commercially invaluable to exporters, investors and public policy professionals in Australia and overseas.
When you’re able to speak to clients and be knowledgeable about what they do and the state that they operate in, they’re going to trust you a lot more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States is $16.1bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 5,623 businesses in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States?
The Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States?
The Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States are Encore Capital Group, Inc. and Alorica Inc.
What does the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States include?
Intensive collections services and Standard collections services are part of the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States is Encore Capital Group, Inc..
How competitive is the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Debt Collection Agencies industry in the United States.
Cut through the noise with intelligence you can trust
