Child and Youth Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average child and youth services business in the United States generates $1.6M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 10,181 child and youth services businesses in the U.S., employing 206,880 workers with an average profit margin of 13.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $44K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Child and Youth Business Actually Do?
Non-profit and for-profit services for children — mentoring (Big Brothers/Sisters), after-school programs, foster care agencies.
Who buys: Government contracts (child welfare), parents (after-school), donors (mentoring orgs).
Average Revenue
$1.6M
per year
Profit Margin
13.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$78K
per year
Total Businesses
10,181
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$206K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$44K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
3.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Child and Youth Services Charge?
Child and youth services (mentoring, after-school, foster) mostly grant/contract-funded.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
After-school program (per child/month) | $150–600 |
Foster care (per child/day) | $25–100 to foster family |
Mentoring (per session) | grant-funded typically |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete child and youth business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a child and youth services 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 child and youth services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Medical supplies & pharma | $13 | $206K | Disposables, medications, lab reagents, implants, and other direct patient supplies. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $794K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $88K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $29K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $264K | Malpractice insurance, billing services, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance. |
Net profit | $13 | $206K | 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
12.88%
openings/year
Closure Rate
8.1%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+6.84%
annual
Businesses Closed
4,852
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Child and Youth Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $300K
Break-Even
11 months
5-Year Survival Rate
70.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a child and youth services business do?
- Non-profit and for-profit services for children — mentoring (Big Brothers/Sisters), after-school programs, foster care agencies. Government contracts (child welfare), parents (after-school), donors (mentoring orgs).
- How much do child and youth services charge?
- Child and youth services (mentoring, after-school, foster) mostly grant/contract-funded. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average child and youth services make per year?
- The average child and youth services business generates $1.6M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $206K per year at a 13.0% profit margin.
- How many child and youth services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 10,181 child and youth services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 206,880 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a child and youth services business?
- Startup costs for a child and youth services business typically range from $75K to $300K, with a 5-year survival rate of 70.0%.
- What is the average salary in the child and youth services industry?
- The average employee in the child and youth services industry earns $44K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The child and youth services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 6.8% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (12.9% entry vs 8.1% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 66% of child and youth services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 4,852 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the child and youth services industry earns $44,152/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 13,715 establishments employing 223,166 people, the typical business has about 16 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The child and youth services industry has grown 106% since 2000 (from 30,570 to 63,046 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Child and Youth Services revenue with other industries: