Historical Sites Revenue Benchmarks
The average historical sites business in the United States generates $907K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,001 historical sites businesses in the U.S., employing 9,193 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $40K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Historical Sites Business Actually Do?
Historic homes, battlefields, monuments, and historic districts open to the public. Include National Park Service sites and privately-run.
Who buys: History-interested tourists, school groups, local residents.
Average Revenue
$907K
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$99K
per year
Total Businesses
1,001
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$109K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$40K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Historical Sites Charge?
Historical sites and monuments charge admission (most) with programming and rentals.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Adult admission | $8–25 |
Guided tour (per person) | $15–50 |
Group tour (10+) | 20–30% discount |
Facility rental (per event) | $1,500–20,000 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete historical sites business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a historical sites 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 historical sites 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Production & performer costs | $14 | $131K | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $363K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $87K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $44K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $174K | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $109K | 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
5.3%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.98%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+7.44%
annual
Businesses Closed
293
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Historical Sites Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
17 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a historical sites business do?
- Historic homes, battlefields, monuments, and historic districts open to the public. Include National Park Service sites and privately-run. History-interested tourists, school groups, local residents.
- How much do historical sites charge?
- Historical sites and monuments charge admission (most) with programming and rentals. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average historical sites make per year?
- The average historical sites business generates $907K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $109K per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many historical sites businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,001 historical sites businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 9,193 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a historical sites business?
- Startup costs for a historical sites business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the historical sites industry?
- The average employee in the historical sites industry earns $40K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The historical sites industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 7.4% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (5.3% entry vs 5.0% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 77% of historical sites businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 293 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the historical sites industry earns $40,079/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 681 establishments employing 14,185 people, the typical business has about 21 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The historical sites industry has grown 39% since 2000 (from 5,094 to 7,106 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Historical Sites revenue with other industries: