Glass and Glazing Contractors Revenue Benchmarks
The average glass and glazing contractors business in the United States generates $2.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 6,453 glass and glazing contractors businesses in the U.S., employing 65,913 workers with an average profit margin of 7.0%.
What Does a Glass and Glazing Business Actually Do?
Contractors that install and repair glass in buildings — residential windows, storefront glass, shower doors, mirrors, custom glass. Some specialize in commercial glazing (curtain walls, facades).
Who buys: Homeowners (windows, showers), commercial builders (storefronts, curtain walls), remodelers.
Average Revenue
$2.2M
per year
Profit Margin
7.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$211K
per year
Total Businesses
6,453
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$151K
small business avg
Labor Cost
30.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.9
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Glass and Glazing Contractors Charge?
Glass and glazing contractors quote per unit for standard glass and per project for custom work.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Standard window replacement | $300–900 per window |
Custom glass door | $800–3,500 |
Shower door (frameless) | $900–2,500 |
Storefront glass (commercial, per sqft) | $50–100/sqft |
Mirror install | $200–800 per mirror |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete glass and glazing business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a glass and glazing contractors 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 glass and glazing contractors 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Materials & subcontractors | $38 | $813K | Lumber, concrete, fixtures, subcontracted trades — the physical scope of the job. |
Wages & benefits | $30 | $645K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $5 | $108K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $68K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $366K | Equipment rentals, insurance (very high in construction), permits, vehicles, fuel. |
Net profit | $7 | $151K | 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
12.69%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.47%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+2.44%
annual
Businesses Closed
8,367
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Glass and Glazing Business?
Startup Cost
$25K – $150K
Break-Even
7 months
5-Year Survival Rate
52.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a glass and glazing contractors business do?
- Contractors that install and repair glass in buildings — residential windows, storefront glass, shower doors, mirrors, custom glass. Some specialize in commercial glazing (curtain walls, facades). Homeowners (windows, showers), commercial builders (storefronts, curtain walls), remodelers.
- How much do glass and glazing contractors charge?
- Glass and glazing contractors quote per unit for standard glass and per project for custom work. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average glass and glazing contractors make per year?
- The average glass and glazing contractors business generates $2.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $151K per year at a 7.0% profit margin.
- How many glass and glazing contractors businesses are there in the US?
- There are 6,453 glass and glazing contractors businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 65,913 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a glass and glazing contractors business?
- Startup costs for a glass and glazing contractors business typically range from $25K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 52.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The glass and glazing contractors industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 2.4% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (12.7% entry vs 11.5% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 54% of glass and glazing contractors businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 8,367 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The glass and glazing contractors industry has declined 6% since 2000 (from 94,025 to 88,283 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Glass and Glazing Contractors revenue with other industries: