Emergency and Other Relief Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average emergency and other relief services business in the United States generates $3.8M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 775 emergency and other relief services businesses in the U.S., employing 26,870 workers with an average profit margin of 13.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $66K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Emergency and Other Relief Business Actually Do?
Disaster relief organizations (Red Cross, humanitarian aid), international relief (Direct Relief, Doctors Without Borders).
Who buys: Donors and government contracts (USAID, State Department, FEMA).
Average Revenue
$3.8M
per year
Profit Margin
13.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$111K
per year
Total Businesses
775
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$500K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$66K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Emergency and Other Relief Services Charge?
Disaster relief and humanitarian aid organizations funded by donations, grants, and government contracts.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Emergency food/water per family | $50–200 |
Emergency shelter per family/month | $800–2,500 |
Fundraising ratio (target) | 10–15% of revenue on fundraising |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete emergency and other relief business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a emergency and other relief 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 emergency and other relief 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 | $498K | Disposables, medications, lab reagents, implants, and other direct patient supplies. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $1.9M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $213K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $71K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $640K | Malpractice insurance, billing services, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance. |
Net profit | $13 | $500K | 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 Emergency and Other Relief Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $300K
Break-Even
5 months
5-Year Survival Rate
70.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a emergency and other relief services business do?
- Disaster relief organizations (Red Cross, humanitarian aid), international relief (Direct Relief, Doctors Without Borders). Donors and government contracts (USAID, State Department, FEMA).
- How much do emergency and other relief services charge?
- Disaster relief and humanitarian aid organizations funded by donations, grants, and government contracts. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average emergency and other relief services make per year?
- The average emergency and other relief services business generates $3.8M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $500K per year at a 13.0% profit margin.
- How many emergency and other relief services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 775 emergency and other relief services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 26,870 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a emergency and other relief services business?
- Startup costs for a emergency and other relief services business typically range from $75K to $300K, with a 5-year survival rate of 70.0%.
- What is the average salary in the emergency and other relief services industry?
- The average employee in the emergency and other relief services industry earns $66K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The emergency and other relief 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 emergency and other relief 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 emergency and other relief services industry earns $66,306/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 2,566 establishments employing 36,332 people, the typical business has about 14 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The emergency and other relief services industry has grown 36% since 2000 (from 8,302 to 11,267 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Emergency and Other Relief Services revenue with other industries: