Fish and Seafood Markets Revenue Benchmarks
The average fish and seafood markets 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 1,973 fish and seafood markets businesses in the U.S., employing 11,852 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a Fish and Seafood Markets Business Actually Do?
Fresh seafood retailers. Often coastal or reliant on air-shipped fresh product.
Who buys: Home cooks, chefs, sushi enthusiasts.
Average Revenue
$1.5M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$245K
per year
Total Businesses
1,973
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$59K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.6
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Fish and Seafood Markets Charge?
Fresh seafood markets earn 40–80% over dock/wholesale prices.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Fresh fillets markup | 40–80% |
Shellfish (shrimp, lobster) | 50–100% |
Prepared/smoked seafood | 100–250% |
Sushi-grade tuna | $25–80/lb retail |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete fish and seafood markets business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a fish and seafood markets 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 fish and seafood markets 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 | $904K | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $206K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $121K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $60K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $121K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $59K | 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 Fish and Seafood Markets Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
48 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a fish and seafood markets business do?
- Fresh seafood retailers. Often coastal or reliant on air-shipped fresh product. Home cooks, chefs, sushi enthusiasts.
- How much do fish and seafood markets charge?
- Fresh seafood markets earn 40–80% over dock/wholesale prices. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average fish and seafood markets make per year?
- The average fish and seafood markets business generates $1.5M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $59K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many fish and seafood markets businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,973 fish and seafood markets businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 11,852 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a fish and seafood markets business?
- Startup costs for a fish and seafood markets business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The fish and seafood markets 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 fish and seafood markets 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.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The fish and seafood markets industry has grown 4% since 2000 (from 17,507 to 18,236 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Fish and Seafood Markets revenue with other industries: