Community Food Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average community food services business in the United States generates $983K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,843 community food services businesses in the U.S., employing 51,711 workers with an average profit margin of 13.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $47K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Community Food Business Actually Do?
Food banks, meal delivery for the disadvantaged, community kitchens, church food pantries. 501(c)(3) non-profits with grants and donations.
Who buys: Beneficiaries (free); donors and grantors fund the org.
Average Revenue
$983K
per year
Profit Margin
13.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$73K
per year
Total Businesses
3,843
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$128K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$47K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Community Food Services Charge?
Food banks and community meal programs are non-profits with grants and donations as primary revenue.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Cost per meal served | $2–5 |
Food distribution (per lb) | $0.10–0.50/lb distributed |
Government contract per client | grant-funded |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete community food business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a community food 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 community food 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 | $127K | Disposables, medications, lab reagents, implants, and other direct patient supplies. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $492K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $55K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $18K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $164K | Malpractice insurance, billing services, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance. |
Net profit | $13 | $128K | 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
6.42%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.74%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.69%
annual
Businesses Closed
448
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Community Food Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $300K
Break-Even
18 months
5-Year Survival Rate
70.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a community food services business do?
- Food banks, meal delivery for the disadvantaged, community kitchens, church food pantries. 501(c)(3) non-profits with grants and donations. Beneficiaries (free); donors and grantors fund the org.
- How much do community food services charge?
- Food banks and community meal programs are non-profits with grants and donations as primary revenue. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average community food services make per year?
- The average community food services business generates $983K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $128K per year at a 13.0% profit margin.
- How many community food services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,843 community food services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 51,711 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a community food services business?
- Startup costs for a community food services business typically range from $75K to $300K, with a 5-year survival rate of 70.0%.
- What is the average salary in the community food services industry?
- The average employee in the community food services industry earns $47K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The community food services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.7% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (6.4% entry vs 4.7% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 78% of community food services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 448 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the community food services industry earns $47,092/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for retail and service industries. With 3,994 establishments employing 47,560 people, the typical business has about 12 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The community food services industry has grown 36% since 2000 (from 8,302 to 11,267 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Community Food Services revenue with other industries: