Libraries and Archives Revenue Benchmarks
The average libraries and archives business in the United States generates $1.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,911 libraries and archives businesses in the U.S., employing 23,901 workers with an average profit margin of 18.0%.
What Does a Libraries and Archives Business Actually Do?
Libraries and Archives: Businesses that create, distribute, or provide access to information — software, media, telecom, and data services.
Who buys: Consumers, businesses, and other tech/media platforms.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$1.2M
per year
Profit Margin
18.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$92K
per year
Total Businesses
1,911
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$207K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.6
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Libraries and Archives Charge?
Libraries and Archives: Tech and information businesses charge by the seat (SaaS), by the hour (services), or per usage (infrastructure). The specifics vary within the libraries and archives category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
SaaS subscription | $10–500/user/month |
Dev/engineering hourly | $75–300/hour |
Cloud infrastructure | 0.01–0.50/hour per unit |
Ad revenue (media) | $5–50 CPM |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete libraries and archives business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a libraries and archives 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 libraries and archives 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Hosting & third-party services | $6 | $73K | Cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP), APIs, content licensing, payment processing. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $461K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $73K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $8 | $97K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $242K | R&D, software licenses, sales commissions, customer support tools. |
Net profit | $18 | $207K | 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
14.7%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.09%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+1.59%
annual
Businesses Closed
941
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Libraries and Archives Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
9 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a libraries and archives business do?
- Libraries and Archives: Businesses that create, distribute, or provide access to information — software, media, telecom, and data services. Consumers, businesses, and other tech/media platforms.
- How much do libraries and archives charge?
- Libraries and Archives: Tech and information businesses charge by the seat (SaaS), by the hour (services), or per usage (infrastructure). The specifics vary within the libraries and archives category — the ranges below are typical for the sector. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average libraries and archives make per year?
- The average libraries and archives business generates $1.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $207K per year at a 18.0% profit margin.
- How many libraries and archives businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,911 libraries and archives businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 23,901 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a libraries and archives business?
- Startup costs for a libraries and archives business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The libraries and archives industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 1.6%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 14.7% and 10.1% respectively.
Approximately 59% of libraries and archives businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 941 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The libraries and archives industry has grown 156% since 2000 (from 3,679 to 9,410 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Libraries and Archives revenue with other industries: