Appliance Repair and Maintenance Revenue Benchmarks
The average appliance repair and maintenance business in the United States generates $492K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 5,090 appliance repair and maintenance businesses in the U.S., employing 21,734 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $54K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Appliance Repair and Maintenance Business Actually Do?
Businesses that repair broken household appliances at the customer's home. Many are franchised (Mr. Appliance) or manufacturer-authorized (Whirlpool, GE, LG).
Who buys: Homeowners with broken appliances still worth repairing (typically <10 years old).
Average Revenue
$492K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$115K
per year
Total Businesses
5,090
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$39K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$54K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.5
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Appliance Repair and Maintenance Charge?
Appliance repair is priced with a service call fee plus hourly labor and parts.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Service call / diagnostic fee | $75–150 |
Hourly labor | $65–150/hour |
Refrigerator repair (typical) | $200–500 |
Washer/dryer repair | $150–450 |
Parts markup | 50–100% over cost |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete appliance repair and maintenance business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a appliance repair and maintenance 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 appliance repair and maintenance 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $80K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $187K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $53K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $27K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $106K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $39K | 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
13.57%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.18%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.8%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,861
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Appliance Repair and Maintenance Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
27 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a appliance repair and maintenance business do?
- Businesses that repair broken household appliances at the customer's home. Many are franchised (Mr. Appliance) or manufacturer-authorized (Whirlpool, GE, LG). Homeowners with broken appliances still worth repairing (typically <10 years old).
- How much do appliance repair and maintenance charge?
- Appliance repair is priced with a service call fee plus hourly labor and parts. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average appliance repair and maintenance make per year?
- The average appliance repair and maintenance business generates $492K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $39K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many appliance repair and maintenance businesses are there in the US?
- There are 5,090 appliance repair and maintenance businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 21,734 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a appliance repair and maintenance business?
- Startup costs for a appliance repair and maintenance business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the appliance repair and maintenance industry?
- The average employee in the appliance repair and maintenance industry earns $54K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The appliance repair and maintenance industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.8% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (13.6% entry vs 11.2% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 55% of appliance repair and maintenance businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 1,861 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the appliance repair and maintenance industry earns $53,829/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 6,183 establishments employing 23,573 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 appliance repair and maintenance industry has declined 20% since 2000 (from 23,666 to 19,006 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Appliance Repair and Maintenance revenue with other industries: