Marinas Revenue Benchmarks
The average marinas business in the United States generates $972K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,518 marinas businesses in the U.S., employing 28,475 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $45K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Marinas Business Actually Do?
Marinas providing boat slips, moorings, fuel, and haul-out services. Some sell boats, offer service, and run restaurants.
Who buys: Recreational boat owners, sport fishermen, commercial fishing vessels.
Average Revenue
$972K
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$120K
per year
Total Businesses
3,518
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$117K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$45K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Marinas Charge?
Marinas rent slips monthly or annually with fuel, service, and boat sales as additional revenue.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Slip rental (per ft/month) | $15–75/foot/month |
Seasonal slip (7 months) | $1,500–15,000+ |
Winter storage (dry) | $50–150/foot |
Marine fuel (per gallon) | $0.30–0.80 margin/gal |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete marinas business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a marinas 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 marinas 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 | $140K | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $389K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $93K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $47K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $187K | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $117K | 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
11.9%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.33%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+7.8%
annual
Businesses Closed
5,419
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Marinas Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
15 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a marinas business do?
- Marinas providing boat slips, moorings, fuel, and haul-out services. Some sell boats, offer service, and run restaurants. Recreational boat owners, sport fishermen, commercial fishing vessels.
- How much do marinas charge?
- Marinas rent slips monthly or annually with fuel, service, and boat sales as additional revenue. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average marinas make per year?
- The average marinas business generates $972K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $117K per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many marinas businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,518 marinas businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 28,475 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a marinas business?
- Startup costs for a marinas business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the marinas industry?
- The average employee in the marinas industry earns $45K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The marinas industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 7.8% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (11.9% entry vs 9.3% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 61% of marinas businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 5,419 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the marinas industry earns $45,422/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 4,035 establishments employing 40,479 people, the typical business has about 10 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The marinas industry has grown 33% since 2000 (from 44,720 to 59,619 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Marinas revenue with other industries: