Optical Goods Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average optical goods stores business in the United States generates $6.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,788 optical goods stores businesses in the U.S., employing 75,897 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%.
What Does a Optical Goods Stores Business Actually Do?
Optical retailers selling eyeglass frames, prescription lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses. Include chains (LensCrafters, Warby Parker) and independents.
Who buys: People needing vision correction, prescription buyers, fashion-eyewear consumers.
Average Revenue
$6.7M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$335K
per year
Total Businesses
3,788
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$268K
small business avg
Labor Cost
10.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Optical Goods Stores Charge?
Optical retailers mark up frames 2–3x wholesale and earn additional revenue on lenses and coatings.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Frames markup | 100–200% over wholesale |
Single vision lenses | $100–250 |
Progressive lenses | $250–700 |
Anti-reflective coating | $50–150 add-on |
Contact lens (annual supply) | $300–800 depending on brand |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete optical goods stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a optical goods stores 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 optical goods stores 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 | $65 | $4.3M | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $10 | $671K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $9 | $577K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $289K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $9 | $577K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $268K | 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
5.26%
openings/year
Closure Rate
5.58%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.68%
annual
Businesses Closed
3,445
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Optical Goods Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
11 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a optical goods stores business do?
- Optical retailers selling eyeglass frames, prescription lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses. Include chains (LensCrafters, Warby Parker) and independents. People needing vision correction, prescription buyers, fashion-eyewear consumers.
- How much do optical goods stores charge?
- Optical retailers mark up frames 2–3x wholesale and earn additional revenue on lenses and coatings. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average optical goods stores make per year?
- The average optical goods stores business generates $6.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $268K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many optical goods stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,788 optical goods stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 75,897 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a optical goods stores business?
- Startup costs for a optical goods stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The optical goods stores industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.7% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (5.3% entry vs 5.6% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 75% of optical goods stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 3,445 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The optical goods stores industry has declined 6% since 2000 (from 40,065 to 37,589 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Optical Goods Stores revenue with other industries: