Local Messengers and Local Delivery Revenue Benchmarks
The average local messengers and local delivery business in the United States generates $4.3M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 4,786 local messengers and local delivery businesses in the U.S., employing 136,797 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $60K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Local Messengers and Local Delivery Business Actually Do?
Local courier services — bike messengers, urban delivery, legal filing services, medical courier, restaurant delivery pre-DoorDash.
Who buys: Law firms (legal filings), hospitals (medical courier), businesses needing same-day delivery.
Average Revenue
$4.3M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$150K
per year
Total Businesses
4,786
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$214K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$60K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Local Messengers and Local Delivery Charge?
Local courier services — bike messengers, urban delivery, medical courier, legal filing services.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Standard local delivery (2-hour) | $15–35 |
Rush delivery (1-hour) | $25–75 |
Medical/legal courier | $25–100 flat |
Route contract (monthly) | $1,500–8,000/month |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete local messengers and local delivery business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a local messengers and local delivery 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 local messengers and local delivery 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 | $770K | Packing materials, pallets, shrink wrap, labels. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $1.5M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $15 | $641K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $128K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $24 | $1.0M | Forklifts, WMS software, insurance, security. |
Net profit | $5 | $214K | 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
12.79%
openings/year
Closure Rate
13.57%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-3.47%
annual
Businesses Closed
559
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Local Messengers and Local Delivery Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
8 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a local messengers and local delivery business do?
- Local courier services — bike messengers, urban delivery, legal filing services, medical courier, restaurant delivery pre-DoorDash. Law firms (legal filings), hospitals (medical courier), businesses needing same-day delivery.
- How much do local messengers and local delivery charge?
- Local courier services — bike messengers, urban delivery, medical courier, legal filing services. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average local messengers and local delivery make per year?
- The average local messengers and local delivery business generates $4.3M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $214K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many local messengers and local delivery businesses are there in the US?
- There are 4,786 local messengers and local delivery businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 136,797 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a local messengers and local delivery business?
- Startup costs for a local messengers and local delivery business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the local messengers and local delivery industry?
- The average employee in the local messengers and local delivery industry earns $60K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The local messengers and local delivery industry is contracting — losing jobs at a net rate of 3.5% per year. More establishments are closing (13.6%) than opening (12.8%), suggesting market challenges.
Approximately 48% of local messengers and local delivery businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 559 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the local messengers and local delivery industry earns $60,231/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 9,041 establishments employing 177,204 people, the typical business has about 20 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The local messengers and local delivery industry has declined 3% since 2000 (from 4,339 to 4,204 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Local Messengers and Local Delivery revenue with other industries: