Book Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average book stores business in the United States generates $2.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 2,455 book stores businesses in the U.S., employing 44,072 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a Book Stores Business Actually Do?
Retail stores selling new and used books. Independents differentiate on curation and community; chains (B&N) compete on selection and price. Many run a cafe alongside.
Who buys: Readers, students, gift buyers, event attendees for author appearances.
Average Revenue
$2.7M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$153K
per year
Total Businesses
2,455
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$110K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Book Stores Charge?
Bookstores earn 40–50% off list price wholesale, sell at close to list — thin retail margin offset by cafe and sidelines.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Book publisher discount (indie retailers) | 40–46% off list |
Sale-price margin (10% off cover) | 30–36% gross |
Café / sidelines gross margin | 60–75% |
Used book margin | 150–400% over acquisition |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete book stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a book 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 book 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 | $1.7M | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $384K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $225K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $112K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $225K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $110K | 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
6.53%
openings/year
Closure Rate
7.26%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.11%
annual
Businesses Closed
262
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Book Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
26 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a book stores business do?
- Retail stores selling new and used books. Independents differentiate on curation and community; chains (B&N) compete on selection and price. Many run a cafe alongside. Readers, students, gift buyers, event attendees for author appearances.
- How much do book stores charge?
- Bookstores earn 40–50% off list price wholesale, sell at close to list — thin retail margin offset by cafe and sidelines. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average book stores make per year?
- The average book stores business generates $2.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $110K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many book stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 2,455 book stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 44,072 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a book stores business?
- Startup costs for a book stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The book stores industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.1% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (6.5% entry vs 7.3% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 69% of book stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 262 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The book stores industry has declined 58% since 2000 (from 7,218 to 3,004 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Book Stores revenue with other industries: