Paint and Wallpaper Stores Revenue Benchmarks
The average paint and wallpaper stores business in the United States generates $7.4M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,393 paint and wallpaper stores businesses in the U.S., employing 31,687 workers with an average profit margin of 4.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $56K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Paint and Wallpaper Stores Business Actually Do?
Specialty retailers selling paint, wallpaper, and related coatings. Include Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, independents.
Who buys: DIYers, contractors, designers.
Average Revenue
$7.4M
per year
Profit Margin
4.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$327K
per year
Total Businesses
1,393
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$297K
small business avg
Labor Cost
14.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$56K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Paint and Wallpaper Stores Charge?
Paint stores earn 45–55% gross on paint plus higher margins on sundries.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Interior paint (per gallon) | $25–75/gallon |
Premium paint (per gallon) | $50–110/gallon |
Wallpaper (per roll) | $25–120/roll |
Contractor discount | 10–25% off retail |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete paint and wallpaper stores business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a paint and wallpaper 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 paint and wallpaper 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 | $61 | $4.6M | Wholesale cost of merchandise purchased for resale. Retail's biggest expense. |
Wages & benefits | $14 | $1.0M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $8 | $610K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $305K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $8 | $610K | Utilities, POS fees, shrinkage, insurance, store maintenance. |
Net profit | $4 | $297K | 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
4.62%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.43%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.87%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,831
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Paint and Wallpaper Stores Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $400K
Break-Even
10 months
5-Year Survival Rate
48.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a paint and wallpaper stores business do?
- Specialty retailers selling paint, wallpaper, and related coatings. Include Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, independents. DIYers, contractors, designers.
- How much do paint and wallpaper stores charge?
- Paint stores earn 45–55% gross on paint plus higher margins on sundries. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average paint and wallpaper stores make per year?
- The average paint and wallpaper stores business generates $7.4M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $297K per year at a 4.0% profit margin.
- How many paint and wallpaper stores businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,393 paint and wallpaper stores businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 31,687 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a paint and wallpaper stores business?
- Startup costs for a paint and wallpaper stores business typically range from $75K to $400K, with a 5-year survival rate of 48.0%.
- What is the average salary in the paint and wallpaper stores industry?
- The average employee in the paint and wallpaper stores industry earns $56K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The paint and wallpaper stores industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.9%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 4.6% and 4.4% respectively.
Approximately 80% of paint and wallpaper stores businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 1,831 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the paint and wallpaper stores industry earns $56,233/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 6,904 establishments employing 42,530 people, the typical business has about 6 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The paint and wallpaper stores industry has declined 38% since 2000 (from 48,298 to 30,090 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Paint and Wallpaper Stores revenue with other industries: