Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing Revenue Benchmarks
The average custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing business in the United States generates $4.9M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 2,264 custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing businesses in the U.S., employing 42,844 workers with an average profit margin of 10.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $66K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing Business Actually Do?
Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing: Businesses that transform raw materials or components into finished products.
Who buys: Wholesalers, retailers, other manufacturers, and government.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$4.9M
per year
Profit Margin
10.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$260K
per year
Total Businesses
2,264
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$491K
small business avg
Labor Cost
22.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$66K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing Charge?
Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing: Manufacturers sell in bulk to wholesalers, distributors, or direct to businesses. Pricing is negotiated by SKU volume. The specifics vary within the custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Contract manufacturing markup | 15–35% over materials + labor |
Own-brand product margin | 25–60% gross margin |
Custom / low-volume run | 40–150% over direct costs |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing 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 custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Raw materials & components | $48 | $2.3M | Steel, chemicals, electronics, packaging — the physical inputs that become the product. |
Wages & benefits | $22 | $1.1M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $5 | $267K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $167K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $12 | $568K | Depreciation on equipment, energy, R&D, quality control, freight. |
Net profit | $10 | $491K | 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
6.28%
openings/year
Closure Rate
7.37%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-1.35%
annual
Businesses Closed
208
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
4 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing business do?
- Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing: Businesses that transform raw materials or components into finished products. Wholesalers, retailers, other manufacturers, and government.
- How much do custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing charge?
- Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing: Manufacturers sell in bulk to wholesalers, distributors, or direct to businesses. Pricing is negotiated by SKU volume. The specifics vary within the custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing category — the ranges below are typical for the sector. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing make per year?
- The average custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing business generates $4.9M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $491K per year at a 10.0% profit margin.
- How many custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing businesses are there in the US?
- There are 2,264 custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 42,844 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing business?
- Startup costs for a custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing industry?
- The average employee in the custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing industry earns $66K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -1.3%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 6.3% and 7.4% respectively.
Approximately 68% of custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 208 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing industry earns $65,553/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 2,031 establishments employing 26,335 people, the typical business has about 13 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The custom architectural woodwork and millwork manufacturing industry has declined 16% since 2000 (from 3,918 to 3,295 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing revenue with other industries: