Confectionery and Nut Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average confectionery and nut stores business in the United States generates $1.5M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,987 confectionery and nut stores businesses in the U.S., employing 20,121 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $27K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Confectionery and Nut Stores Business Actually Do?
Candy stores, chocolate boutiques, nut retailers. Strong Q4 holidays plus Valentine's, Easter, Mother's Day.
Who buys: Gift buyers, occasion buyers, sweet-tooth walk-ins.
Average Revenue
$1.5M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$148K
per year
Total Businesses
1,987
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$60K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$27K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.6
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Confectionery and Nut Stores Charge?
Candy and chocolate retailers mark up 100–250% with holiday peaks driving majority of annual revenue.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Bulk candy markup | 150–300% |
Fine chocolates markup | 100–200% |
Gift box / arrangement | $25–200 |
Holiday season sales | 40–60% of annual revenue |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete confectionery and nut stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a confectionery and nut 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 confectionery and nut 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 | $921K | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $210K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $123K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $61K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $123K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $60K | 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
14.9%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.26%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.74%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,785
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Confectionery and Nut Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
48 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a confectionery and nut stores business do?
- Candy stores, chocolate boutiques, nut retailers. Strong Q4 holidays plus Valentine's, Easter, Mother's Day. Gift buyers, occasion buyers, sweet-tooth walk-ins.
- How much do confectionery and nut stores charge?
- Candy and chocolate retailers mark up 100–250% with holiday peaks driving majority of annual revenue. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average confectionery and nut stores make per year?
- The average confectionery and nut stores business generates $1.5M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $60K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many confectionery and nut stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,987 confectionery and nut stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 20,121 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a confectionery and nut stores business?
- Startup costs for a confectionery and nut stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
- What is the average salary in the confectionery and nut stores industry?
- The average employee in the confectionery and nut stores industry earns $27K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The confectionery and nut stores industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.7% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (14.9% entry vs 10.3% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 58% of confectionery and nut stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 1,785 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the confectionery and nut stores industry earns $26,734/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 3,110 establishments employing 21,229 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The confectionery and nut stores industry has grown 4% since 2000 (from 17,507 to 18,236 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Confectionery and Nut Stores revenue with other industries: