Linen Supply Revenue Benchmarks
The average linen supply business in the United States generates $9.1M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 518 linen supply businesses in the U.S., employing 41,452 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $49K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Linen Supply Business Actually Do?
Commercial linen rental supply — table linens for restaurants, uniforms for industrial, linens for hotels. Aramark, Cintas are largest.
Who buys: Restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, industrial employers.
Average Revenue
$9.1M
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$114K
per year
Total Businesses
518
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$731K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$49K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Linen Supply Charge?
Commercial linen rental for hospitality, healthcare, and industrial — priced per piece per rental.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Napkin rental | $0.10–0.30 each |
Tablecloth rental | $1.50–5.00 each |
Uniform rental (per employee/week) | $8–25 |
Restaurant contract (weekly) | $300–2,000+ |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete linen supply business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a linen supply 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 linen supply 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $1.5M | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $3.5M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $987K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $494K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $2.0M | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $731K | 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
8.14%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.64%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.12%
annual
Businesses Closed
2,199
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Linen Supply Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
1 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a linen supply business do?
- Commercial linen rental supply — table linens for restaurants, uniforms for industrial, linens for hotels. Aramark, Cintas are largest. Restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, industrial employers.
- How much do linen supply charge?
- Commercial linen rental for hospitality, healthcare, and industrial — priced per piece per rental. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average linen supply make per year?
- The average linen supply business generates $9.1M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $731K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many linen supply businesses are there in the US?
- There are 518 linen supply businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 41,452 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a linen supply business?
- Startup costs for a linen supply business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the linen supply industry?
- The average employee in the linen supply industry earns $49K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The linen supply industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.1% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (8.1% entry vs 9.6% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 60% of linen supply businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 2,199 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the linen supply industry earns $48,912/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 1,442 establishments employing 62,518 people, the typical business has about 43 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The linen supply industry has declined 32% since 2000 (from 33,004 to 22,298 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Linen Supply revenue with other industries: