Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) Revenue Benchmarks
The average postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) business in the United States generates $8.8M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 908 postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) businesses in the U.S., employing 33,279 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $52K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Postharvest Crop Activities Business Actually Do?
Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning): Businesses that grow crops, raise livestock, or harvest natural resources from land and forests.
Who buys: Food processors, wholesalers, retailers, direct consumers.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$8.8M
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$241K
per year
Total Businesses
908
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$1.9M
small business avg
Labor Cost
20.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$52K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) Charge?
Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning): Agriculture sells at commodity market prices, negotiated per unit weight or volume. The specifics vary within the postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Grain (per bushel) | commodity market |
Livestock (per head or per lb) | commodity market |
Specialty produce | premium of 30–200% over commodity |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete postharvest crop activities business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) 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 postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Seed, feed, fertilizer | $35 | $3.1M | Inputs — the direct materials to produce the crop or raise the animal. |
Wages & benefits | $20 | $1.8M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $513K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $154K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $16 | $1.4M | Equipment depreciation, fuel, insurance, veterinary, water rights. |
Net profit | $22 | $1.9M | 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
9.8%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.14%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-5.32%
annual
Businesses Closed
399
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Postharvest Crop Activities Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
1 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) business do?
- Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning): Businesses that grow crops, raise livestock, or harvest natural resources from land and forests. Food processors, wholesalers, retailers, direct consumers.
- How much do postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) charge?
- Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning): Agriculture sells at commodity market prices, negotiated per unit weight or volume. The specifics vary within the postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) category — the ranges below are typical for the sector. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) make per year?
- The average postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) business generates $8.8M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $1.9M per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) businesses are there in the US?
- There are 908 postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 33,279 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) business?
- Startup costs for a postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) industry?
- The average employee in the postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) industry earns $52K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) industry is contracting — losing jobs at a net rate of 5.3% per year. More establishments are closing (11.1%) than opening (9.8%), suggesting market challenges.
Approximately 55% of postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 399 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) industry earns $52,010/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 2,246 establishments employing 84,774 people, the typical business has about 38 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The postharvest crop activities (except cotton ginning) industry has declined 5% since 2000 (from 4,061 to 3,850 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) revenue with other industries: