All Other Specialty Food Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average all other specialty food stores business in the United States generates $1.3M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 5,135 all other specialty food stores businesses in the U.S., employing 41,343 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a All Other Specialty Food Stores Business Actually Do?
Specialty food retailers — spice shops, tea, coffee, cheese, olive oil, gourmet imports. Small footprint, high margin.
Who buys: Home cooks, gift buyers, gourmet enthusiasts.
Average Revenue
$1.3M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$161K
per year
Total Businesses
5,135
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$52K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.5
firms per 100K people
How Much Do All Other Specialty Food Stores Charge?
Specialty food stores (spice, tea, coffee, cheese, wine, etc.) mark up 60–200% depending on category.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Specialty/gourmet food markup | 80–200% |
Fresh/perishable markup | 60–120% |
Prepared food/meals markup | 150–300% |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete all other specialty food stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a all other specialty food stores 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 all other specialty food stores 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Cost of goods sold | $61 | $797K | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $182K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $106K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $53K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $106K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $52K | 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
14.9%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.26%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.74%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,785
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a All Other Specialty Food Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
55 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a all other specialty food stores business do?
- Specialty food retailers — spice shops, tea, coffee, cheese, olive oil, gourmet imports. Small footprint, high margin. Home cooks, gift buyers, gourmet enthusiasts.
- How much do all other specialty food stores charge?
- Specialty food stores (spice, tea, coffee, cheese, wine, etc.) mark up 60–200% depending on category. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average all other specialty food stores make per year?
- The average all other specialty food stores business generates $1.3M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $52K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many all other specialty food stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 5,135 all other specialty food stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 41,343 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a all other specialty food stores business?
- Startup costs for a all other specialty food stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The all other specialty food stores industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.7% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (14.9% entry vs 10.3% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 58% of all other specialty food stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 1,785 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The all other specialty food stores industry has grown 4% since 2000 (from 17,507 to 18,236 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare All Other Specialty Food Stores revenue with other industries: