Automotive Glass Replacement Shops Revenue Benchmarks
The average automotive glass replacement shops business in the United States generates $709K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 5,402 automotive glass replacement shops businesses in the U.S., employing 31,259 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 Automotive Glass Replacement Shops Business Actually Do?
Businesses that repair chipped windshields and replace broken auto glass — windshields, side windows, sunroofs. Mobile service (they come to you) is standard.
Who buys: Vehicle owners with damaged glass (often insurance-paid).
Average Revenue
$709K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$123K
per year
Total Businesses
5,402
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$57K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$54K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.6
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Automotive Glass Replacement Shops Charge?
Auto glass shops price per glass, with insurance often covering full replacement.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Windshield replacement (standard) | $300–500 |
Windshield with ADAS calibration | $500–1,200 |
Side/rear window | $200–500 |
Rock chip repair | $50–125 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete automotive glass replacement shops business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a automotive glass replacement shops 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 automotive glass replacement shops 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 | $115K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $270K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $77K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $38K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $153K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $57K | 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
10.42%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.1%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.4%
annual
Businesses Closed
12,052
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Automotive Glass Replacement Shops Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
19 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a automotive glass replacement shops business do?
- Businesses that repair chipped windshields and replace broken auto glass — windshields, side windows, sunroofs. Mobile service (they come to you) is standard. Vehicle owners with damaged glass (often insurance-paid).
- How much do automotive glass replacement shops charge?
- Auto glass shops price per glass, with insurance often covering full replacement. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average automotive glass replacement shops make per year?
- The average automotive glass replacement shops business generates $709K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $57K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many automotive glass replacement shops businesses are there in the US?
- There are 5,402 automotive glass replacement shops businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 31,259 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a automotive glass replacement shops business?
- Startup costs for a automotive glass replacement shops business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the automotive glass replacement shops industry?
- The average employee in the automotive glass replacement shops industry earns $54K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The automotive glass replacement shops industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.4% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (10.4% entry vs 9.1% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 62% of automotive glass replacement shops businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 12,052 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the automotive glass replacement shops industry earns $53,916/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 6,745 establishments employing 38,120 people, the typical business has about 6 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The automotive glass replacement shops industry has declined 2% since 2000 (from 138,176 to 135,684 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Automotive Glass Replacement Shops revenue with other industries: