Convenience Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average convenience stores business in the United States generates $879K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 32,008 convenience stores businesses in the U.S., employing 153,456 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a Convenience Stores Business Actually Do?
Small retail stores selling snacks, drinks, tobacco, and impulse items — often 24/7 and often paired with gas stations. Include chains (7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa) and independent shops.
Who buys: Consumers making quick, convenient purchases; commuters; workers on breaks.
How this is different: Convenience stores without fuel are classified here; combined c-store/gas stations are under gasoline-stations-convenience-stores.
Average Revenue
$879K
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$183K
per year
Total Businesses
32,008
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$35K
small business avg
Labor Cost
12.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
9.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Convenience Stores Charge?
Convenience stores earn on markup (moderate) plus lottery, tobacco, and prepared food (high margin).
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Packaged food/snacks markup | 30–50% |
Tobacco markup | 10–15% |
Beer/wine markup | 20–35% |
Fountain drinks/coffee margin | 70–85% |
Lottery commission | 5–7% of ticket sales |
Average transaction | $8–15 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete convenience stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a convenience 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 convenience 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 | $63 | $554K | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $12 | $106K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $74K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $37K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $74K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $35K | 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
9.03%
openings/year
Closure Rate
7.77%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+0.14%
annual
Businesses Closed
6,068
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Convenience Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
81 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a convenience stores business do?
- Small retail stores selling snacks, drinks, tobacco, and impulse items — often 24/7 and often paired with gas stations. Include chains (7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa) and independent shops. Consumers making quick, convenient purchases; commuters; workers on breaks.
- How much do convenience stores charge?
- Convenience stores earn on markup (moderate) plus lottery, tobacco, and prepared food (high margin). See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average convenience stores make per year?
- The average convenience stores business generates $879K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $35K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many convenience stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 32,008 convenience stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 153,456 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a convenience stores business?
- Startup costs for a convenience stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The convenience stores industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 0.1%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 9.0% and 7.8% respectively.
Approximately 67% of convenience stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 6,068 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The convenience stores industry has grown 9% since 2000 (from 60,166 to 65,750 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Convenience Stores revenue with other industries: