Breweries Revenue Benchmarks
The average breweries business in the United States generates $4.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 4,708 breweries businesses in the U.S., employing 81,483 workers with an average profit margin of 10.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $47K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Breweries Business Actually Do?
Beer producers — from small craft breweries (<15,000 bbl/year) to regional and national breweries. Modern craft breweries emphasize taproom sales for margin over wholesale distribution.
Who buys: Adult consumers via taprooms, retailers (through distributors), restaurants and bars.
Average Revenue
$4.7M
per year
Profit Margin
10.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$270K
per year
Total Businesses
4,708
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$466K
small business avg
Labor Cost
18.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$47K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Breweries Charge?
Craft breweries earn on taproom sales (highest margin), wholesale to distributors, and self-distribution where legal.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Taproom pint price | $6–10 per 16oz |
Taproom gross margin | 70–85% |
6-pack retail price | $10–18 per 6-pack |
Wholesale price to distributor | $100–180 per barrel (bbl) |
Self-distribution to retail | $140–230 per bbl (where legal) |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete breweries business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a breweries 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 breweries 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 | $2.4M | Steel, chemicals, electronics, packaging — the physical inputs that become the product. |
Wages & benefits | $18 | $840K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $269K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $168K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $12 | $571K | Depreciation on equipment, energy, R&D, quality control, freight. |
Net profit | $10 | $466K | 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
9.61%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.91%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.7%
annual
Businesses Closed
688
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Breweries Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
4 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a breweries business do?
- Beer producers — from small craft breweries (<15,000 bbl/year) to regional and national breweries. Modern craft breweries emphasize taproom sales for margin over wholesale distribution. Adult consumers via taprooms, retailers (through distributors), restaurants and bars.
- How much do breweries charge?
- Craft breweries earn on taproom sales (highest margin), wholesale to distributors, and self-distribution where legal. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average breweries make per year?
- The average breweries business generates $4.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $466K per year at a 10.0% profit margin.
- How many breweries businesses are there in the US?
- There are 4,708 breweries businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 81,483 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a breweries business?
- Startup costs for a breweries business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the breweries industry?
- The average employee in the breweries industry earns $47K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The breweries industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.7% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (9.6% entry vs 6.9% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 70% of breweries businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 688 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the breweries industry earns $47,386/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 5,988 establishments employing 109,645 people, the typical business has about 18 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The breweries industry has grown 430% since 2000 (from 1,996 to 10,579 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Breweries revenue with other industries: