Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average automotive parts and accessories stores business in the United States generates $5.0M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 15,451 automotive parts and accessories stores businesses in the U.S., employing 360,426 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores Business Actually Do?
Auto parts retailers (AutoZone, O'Reilly, NAPA, Advance) selling parts for DIY and commercial mechanics.
Who buys: DIY vehicle owners, professional mechanics, auto body shops.
Average Revenue
$5.0M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$214K
per year
Total Businesses
15,451
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$200K
small business avg
Labor Cost
15.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
4.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores Charge?
Auto parts retailers (AutoZone, O'Reilly) mark up 40–100% with commercial sales at lower margin.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Everyday parts markup | 40–80% |
Specialty/performance parts | 70–150% |
Commercial customer discount | 20–35% off retail |
Loaner tool program | free (retention driver) |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete automotive parts and accessories stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a automotive parts and accessories 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 automotive parts and accessories 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 | $3.0M | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $15 | $749K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $404K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $202K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $404K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $200K | 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
4.21%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.45%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.78%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,841
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
14 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a automotive parts and accessories stores business do?
- Auto parts retailers (AutoZone, O'Reilly, NAPA, Advance) selling parts for DIY and commercial mechanics. DIY vehicle owners, professional mechanics, auto body shops.
- How much do automotive parts and accessories stores charge?
- Auto parts retailers (AutoZone, O'Reilly) mark up 40–100% with commercial sales at lower margin. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average automotive parts and accessories stores make per year?
- The average automotive parts and accessories stores business generates $5.0M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $200K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many automotive parts and accessories stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 15,451 automotive parts and accessories stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 360,426 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a automotive parts and accessories stores business?
- Startup costs for a automotive parts and accessories stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The automotive parts and accessories stores industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.8%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 4.2% and 4.4% respectively.
Approximately 80% of automotive parts and accessories stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 1,841 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The automotive parts and accessories stores industry has declined 33% since 2000 (from 35,528 to 23,904 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores revenue with other industries: