Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers Revenue Benchmarks
The average freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers business in the United States generates $3.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 5,888 freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers businesses in the U.S., employing 182,126 workers with an average profit margin of 13.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $72K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers Business Actually Do?
Freestanding surgery centers (ASCs) doing outpatient procedures + freestanding ERs. Distinct from hospital-based facilities.
Who buys: Patients (via referral or self-directed), surgeons using ASCs as venue.
Average Revenue
$3.7M
per year
Profit Margin
13.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$121K
per year
Total Businesses
5,888
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$486K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$72K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.8
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers Charge?
Freestanding ASCs and ERs charge facility fees separate from professional (physician) fees.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Facility fee (basic ASC procedure) | $1,500–5,000 |
Facility fee (mid-complexity) | $3,500–15,000 |
Freestanding ER facility fee | $1,500–8,000 |
Colonoscopy (facility + prof fee) | $1,500–4,500 total |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers 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 freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers 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 | $484K | 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 | $208K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $69K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $623K | Malpractice insurance, billing services, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance. |
Net profit | $13 | $486K | 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
10.12%
openings/year
Closure Rate
5.47%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+2.3%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,770
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $300K
Break-Even
5 months
5-Year Survival Rate
70.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers business do?
- Freestanding surgery centers (ASCs) doing outpatient procedures + freestanding ERs. Distinct from hospital-based facilities. Patients (via referral or self-directed), surgeons using ASCs as venue.
- How much do freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers charge?
- Freestanding ASCs and ERs charge facility fees separate from professional (physician) fees. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers make per year?
- The average freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers business generates $3.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $486K per year at a 13.0% profit margin.
- How many freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers businesses are there in the US?
- There are 5,888 freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 182,126 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers business?
- Startup costs for a freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers business typically range from $75K to $300K, with a 5-year survival rate of 70.0%.
- What is the average salary in the freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers industry?
- The average employee in the freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers industry earns $72K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 2.3% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (10.1% entry vs 5.5% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 75% of freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 1,770 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers industry earns $71,905/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 8,923 establishments employing 176,997 people, the typical business has about 20 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers industry has grown 150% since 2000 (from 10,435 to 26,098 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers revenue with other industries: