General Warehousing and Storage Revenue Benchmarks
The average general warehousing and storage business in the United States generates $22.6M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 6,459 general warehousing and storage businesses in the U.S., employing 1,074,752 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $51K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a General Warehousing and Storage Business Actually Do?
Warehouses that store non-refrigerated goods for other businesses (3PLs). Modern warehousing bundles storage with pick-and-pack, fulfillment, and shipping — often for e-commerce brands.
Who buys: E-commerce brands, wholesalers, importers, manufacturers without in-house distribution.
Average Revenue
$22.6M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$136K
per year
Total Businesses
6,459
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$1.1M
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$51K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.9
firms per 100K people
How Much Do General Warehousing and Storage Charge?
General warehousing charges for space, handling, and per-unit throughput.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Storage per sqft/year | $5–20/sqft/year |
Pallet storage (monthly) | $15–75/pallet/month |
Inbound receiving | $5–15 per pallet |
Outbound handling / pick-and-pack | $2–5 per order + shipping |
Cross-docking | $20–60/pallet flat |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete general warehousing and storage business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a general warehousing and storage 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 general warehousing and storage 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Handling supplies | $18 | $4.1M | Packing materials, pallets, shrink wrap, labels. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $7.9M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $15 | $3.4M | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $679K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $24 | $5.4M | Forklifts, WMS software, insurance, security. |
Net profit | $5 | $1.1M | 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
9.86%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.93%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+1.73%
annual
Businesses Closed
528
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a General Warehousing and Storage Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
2 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a general warehousing and storage business do?
- Warehouses that store non-refrigerated goods for other businesses (3PLs). Modern warehousing bundles storage with pick-and-pack, fulfillment, and shipping — often for e-commerce brands. E-commerce brands, wholesalers, importers, manufacturers without in-house distribution.
- How much do general warehousing and storage charge?
- General warehousing charges for space, handling, and per-unit throughput. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average general warehousing and storage make per year?
- The average general warehousing and storage business generates $22.6M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $1.1M per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many general warehousing and storage businesses are there in the US?
- There are 6,459 general warehousing and storage businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 1,074,752 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a general warehousing and storage business?
- Startup costs for a general warehousing and storage business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the general warehousing and storage industry?
- The average employee in the general warehousing and storage industry earns $51K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The general warehousing and storage industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 1.7%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 9.9% and 6.9% respectively.
Approximately 70% of general warehousing and storage businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 528 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the general warehousing and storage industry earns $50,926/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 16,755 establishments employing 1,725,148 people, the typical business has about 103 employees. These tend to be larger operations requiring significant staffing investment.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The general warehousing and storage industry has grown 28% since 2000 (from 6,696 to 8,576 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare General Warehousing and Storage revenue with other industries: