Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures Revenue Benchmarks
The average agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures business in the United States generates $1.6M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 4,544 agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures businesses in the U.S., employing 20,286 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $133K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures Business Actually Do?
Talent representation — sports agents, music managers, literary agents, film/TV talent agents, celebrity managers.
Who buys: Talent (paying commission), employers of talent (managers negotiate).
Average Revenue
$1.6M
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$358K
per year
Total Businesses
4,544
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$192K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$133K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures Charge?
Agents and managers earn commission on client earnings — typical rates are the industry standard.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Talent agent (SAG-AFTRA capped) | 10% of client earnings |
Athlete agent commission | 3–20% depending on sport |
Manager (music, film) | 15–20% of client earnings |
Literary agent | 15% domestic, 20% foreign |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Production & performer costs | $14 | $230K | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $640K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $154K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $77K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $307K | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $192K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
15.98%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.95%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+11.1%
annual
Businesses Closed
380
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
9 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures business do?
- Talent representation — sports agents, music managers, literary agents, film/TV talent agents, celebrity managers. Talent (paying commission), employers of talent (managers negotiate).
- How much do agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures charge?
- Agents and managers earn commission on client earnings — typical rates are the industry standard. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures make per year?
- The average agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures business generates $1.6M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $192K per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures businesses are there in the US?
- There are 4,544 agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 20,286 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures business?
- Startup costs for a agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures industry?
- The average employee in the agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures industry earns $133K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 11.1% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (16.0% entry vs 11.9% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 53% of agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 380 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures industry earns $132,534/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 6,698 establishments employing 29,621 people, the typical business has about 4 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures industry has grown 53% since 2000 (from 2,464 to 3,761 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures revenue with other industries: