Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing Revenue Benchmarks
The average apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing business in the United States generates $2.8M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 612 apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing businesses in the U.S., employing 7,799 workers with an average profit margin of 10.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $52K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing Business Actually Do?
Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing: Businesses that transform raw materials or components into finished products.
Who buys: Wholesalers, retailers, other manufacturers, and government.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$2.8M
per year
Profit Margin
10.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$223K
per year
Total Businesses
612
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$284K
small business avg
Labor Cost
18.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$52K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing Charge?
Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing: Manufacturers sell in bulk to wholesalers, distributors, or direct to businesses. Pricing is negotiated by SKU volume. The specifics vary within the apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Contract manufacturing markup | 15–35% over materials + labor |
Own-brand product margin | 25–60% gross margin |
Custom / low-volume run | 40–150% over direct costs |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing 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 apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Raw materials & components | $50 | $1.4M | Steel, chemicals, electronics, packaging — the physical inputs that become the product. |
Wages & benefits | $18 | $511K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $164K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $102K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $12 | $348K | Depreciation on equipment, energy, R&D, quality control, freight. |
Net profit | $10 | $284K | 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
15.75%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.14%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.72%
annual
Businesses Closed
62
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
6 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing business do?
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing: Businesses that transform raw materials or components into finished products. Wholesalers, retailers, other manufacturers, and government.
- How much do apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing charge?
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing: Manufacturers sell in bulk to wholesalers, distributors, or direct to businesses. Pricing is negotiated by SKU volume. The specifics vary within the apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing category — the ranges below are typical for the sector. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing make per year?
- The average apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing business generates $2.8M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $284K per year at a 10.0% profit margin.
- How many apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing businesses are there in the US?
- There are 612 apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 7,799 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing business?
- Startup costs for a apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing industry?
- The average employee in the apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing industry earns $52K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.7%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 15.8% and 11.1% respectively.
Approximately 55% of apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 62 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing industry earns $52,162/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 1,360 establishments employing 12,981 people, the typical business has about 10 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing industry has declined 64% since 2000 (from 1,767 to 631 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing revenue with other industries: