Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage Revenue Benchmarks
The average refrigerated warehousing and storage business in the United States generates $10.8M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 693 refrigerated warehousing and storage businesses in the U.S., employing 53,635 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $62K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage Business Actually Do?
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage: Businesses that store goods on behalf of clients and often handle fulfillment.
Who buys: Manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, e-commerce companies.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$10.8M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$140K
per year
Total Businesses
693
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$540K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$62K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage Charge?
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage: Warehouses charge for space, handling, or per-unit throughput. The specifics vary within the refrigerated warehousing and storage category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Storage (per sqft/year) | $5–25/sqft/year |
Pallet storage (monthly) | $15–100/pallet/month |
Order fulfillment (pick-and-pack) | $2–5 per order + shipping |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete refrigerated warehousing and storage business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a refrigerated warehousing and storage 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 refrigerated warehousing and storage 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Handling supplies | $18 | $1.9M | Packing materials, pallets, shrink wrap, labels. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $3.8M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $15 | $1.6M | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $324K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $24 | $2.6M | Forklifts, WMS software, insurance, security. |
Net profit | $5 | $540K | 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
9.86%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.93%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+1.73%
annual
Businesses Closed
528
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
3 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a refrigerated warehousing and storage business do?
- Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage: Businesses that store goods on behalf of clients and often handle fulfillment. Manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, e-commerce companies.
- How much do refrigerated warehousing and storage charge?
- Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage: Warehouses charge for space, handling, or per-unit throughput. The specifics vary within the refrigerated warehousing and storage 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 refrigerated warehousing and storage make per year?
- The average refrigerated warehousing and storage business generates $10.8M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $540K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many refrigerated warehousing and storage businesses are there in the US?
- There are 693 refrigerated warehousing and storage businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 53,635 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a refrigerated warehousing and storage business?
- Startup costs for a refrigerated warehousing and storage business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the refrigerated warehousing and storage industry?
- The average employee in the refrigerated warehousing and storage industry earns $62K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The refrigerated warehousing and storage industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 1.7%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 9.9% and 6.9% respectively.
Approximately 70% of refrigerated warehousing and storage businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 528 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the refrigerated warehousing and storage industry earns $62,476/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 1,760 establishments employing 73,514 people, the typical business has about 42 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The refrigerated warehousing and storage industry has grown 28% since 2000 (from 6,696 to 8,576 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage revenue with other industries: