Parking Lots and Garages Revenue Benchmarks
The average parking lots and garages business in the United States generates $2.9M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 2,670 parking lots and garages businesses in the U.S., employing 99,031 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $35K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Parking Lots and Garages Business Actually Do?
Businesses that operate parking facilities — surface lots, multi-story garages, valet operations. Includes owned/leased sites and management contracts for property owners.
Who buys: Drivers seeking short-term or monthly parking; property owners outsourcing management.
Average Revenue
$2.9M
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$78K
per year
Total Businesses
2,670
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$232K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$35K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.8
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Parking Lots and Garages Charge?
Parking operators price by hour, day, or month depending on location and demand.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Metered hourly rate | $2–8/hour |
Daily maximum | $15–50/day |
Downtown monthly reserved | $150–400/month |
Downtown monthly (major metro) | $300–800/month |
Airport long-term (per day) | $15–35/day |
Valet service | $15–35 per park + tip |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete parking lots and garages business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a parking lots and garages 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 parking lots and garages 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $470K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $1.1M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $313K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $157K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $627K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $232K | 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
18.14%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.9%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+9.73%
annual
Businesses Closed
4,596
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Parking Lots and Garages Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
5 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a parking lots and garages business do?
- Businesses that operate parking facilities — surface lots, multi-story garages, valet operations. Includes owned/leased sites and management contracts for property owners. Drivers seeking short-term or monthly parking; property owners outsourcing management.
- How much do parking lots and garages charge?
- Parking operators price by hour, day, or month depending on location and demand. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average parking lots and garages make per year?
- The average parking lots and garages business generates $2.9M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $232K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many parking lots and garages businesses are there in the US?
- There are 2,670 parking lots and garages businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 99,031 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a parking lots and garages business?
- Startup costs for a parking lots and garages business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the parking lots and garages industry?
- The average employee in the parking lots and garages industry earns $35K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The parking lots and garages industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 9.7% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (18.1% entry vs 10.9% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 56% of parking lots and garages businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 4,596 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the parking lots and garages industry earns $35,003/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 7,816 establishments employing 125,200 people, the typical business has about 16 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The parking lots and garages industry has grown 117% since 2000 (from 19,962 to 43,241 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Parking Lots and Garages revenue with other industries: