Convention and Trade Show Organizers Revenue Benchmarks
The average convention and trade show organizers business in the United States generates $880K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 5,722 convention and trade show organizers businesses in the U.S., employing 47,783 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $72K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Convention and Trade Show Organizers Business Actually Do?
Trade show organizers producing industry-specific conventions and expos — CES, NRF, HIMSS, AACC. Revenue from exhibitors + attendees.
Who buys: Exhibiting businesses, attendees, sponsors, media partners.
Average Revenue
$880K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$105K
per year
Total Businesses
5,722
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$70K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$72K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Convention and Trade Show Organizers Charge?
Trade show organizers earn on exhibitor booth fees, sponsorships, and attendee registration.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
10x10 booth fee (major show) | $5,000–35,000 |
10x10 booth fee (regional) | $1,500–8,000 |
Attendee registration | $100–1,500 |
Sponsorship packages | $5,000–500,000+ |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete convention and trade show organizers business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a convention and trade show organizers 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 convention and trade show organizers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $7 | $65K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $484K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $49K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $33K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $20 | $179K | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $70K | 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
12.41%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.36%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.94%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,363
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Convention and Trade Show Organizers Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
26 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a convention and trade show organizers business do?
- Trade show organizers producing industry-specific conventions and expos — CES, NRF, HIMSS, AACC. Revenue from exhibitors + attendees. Exhibiting businesses, attendees, sponsors, media partners.
- How much do convention and trade show organizers charge?
- Trade show organizers earn on exhibitor booth fees, sponsorships, and attendee registration. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average convention and trade show organizers make per year?
- The average convention and trade show organizers business generates $880K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $70K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many convention and trade show organizers businesses are there in the US?
- There are 5,722 convention and trade show organizers businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 47,783 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a convention and trade show organizers business?
- Startup costs for a convention and trade show organizers business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the convention and trade show organizers industry?
- The average employee in the convention and trade show organizers industry earns $72K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The convention and trade show organizers industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.9% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (12.4% entry vs 9.4% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 61% of convention and trade show organizers businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 1,363 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the convention and trade show organizers industry earns $72,251/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 7,741 establishments employing 53,528 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The convention and trade show organizers industry has declined 20% since 2000 (from 20,024 to 16,003 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Convention and Trade Show Organizers revenue with other industries: