News Dealers and Newsstands Revenue Benchmarks
The average news dealers and newsstands business in the United States generates $624K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 697 news dealers and newsstands businesses in the U.S., employing 2,413 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a News Dealers and Newsstands Business Actually Do?
Newsstands selling papers, magazines, plus impulse convenience items. Declining category as print declines.
Who buys: Commuters, tourists, gift buyers.
Average Revenue
$624K
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$180K
per year
Total Businesses
697
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$25K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do News Dealers and Newsstands Charge?
Newsstands earn thin margin on publications, better on impulse convenience items.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Newspapers/magazines margin | 15–30% |
Impulse items (candy, drinks) | 30–50% |
Lottery commission | 5–7% of ticket sales |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete news dealers and newsstands business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a news dealers and newsstands 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 news dealers and newsstands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Cost of goods sold | $61 | $384K | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $87K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $51K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $26K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $51K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $25K | 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
6.53%
openings/year
Closure Rate
7.26%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.11%
annual
Businesses Closed
262
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a News Dealers and Newsstands Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
114 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a news dealers and newsstands business do?
- Newsstands selling papers, magazines, plus impulse convenience items. Declining category as print declines. Commuters, tourists, gift buyers.
- How much do news dealers and newsstands charge?
- Newsstands earn thin margin on publications, better on impulse convenience items. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average news dealers and newsstands make per year?
- The average news dealers and newsstands business generates $624K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $25K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many news dealers and newsstands businesses are there in the US?
- There are 697 news dealers and newsstands businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 2,413 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a news dealers and newsstands business?
- Startup costs for a news dealers and newsstands business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The news dealers and newsstands industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.1% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (6.5% entry vs 7.3% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 69% of news dealers and newsstands businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 262 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The news dealers and newsstands industry has declined 58% since 2000 (from 7,218 to 3,004 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare News Dealers and Newsstands revenue with other industries: