Religious Organizations Revenue Benchmarks
The average religious organizations business in the United States generates $559K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 184,723 religious organizations businesses in the U.S., employing 1,481,370 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $38K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Religious Organizations Business Actually Do?
Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other religious institutions. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations funded largely by donations from members.
Who buys: Congregation members via voluntary donations; also facility renters and program participants.
Average Revenue
$559K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$70K
per year
Total Businesses
184,723
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$45K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$38K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
55.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Religious Organizations Charge?
Religious organizations are 501(c)(3) — 'revenue' comes from donations, program fees, and rental income.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Average household giving | $800–2,500/year |
Facility rental for events | $500–5,000 per event |
School tuition (if affiliated) | $5,000–20,000/year |
Total revenue as % of members | 3–8% of median household income |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete religious organizations business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a religious organizations 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 religious organizations 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 | $91K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $212K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $60K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $30K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $121K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $45K | 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
5.34%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.8%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+2.23%
annual
Businesses Closed
7,198
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Religious Organizations Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
24 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a religious organizations business do?
- Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other religious institutions. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations funded largely by donations from members. Congregation members via voluntary donations; also facility renters and program participants.
- How much do religious organizations charge?
- Religious organizations are 501(c)(3) — 'revenue' comes from donations, program fees, and rental income. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average religious organizations make per year?
- The average religious organizations business generates $559K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $45K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many religious organizations businesses are there in the US?
- There are 184,723 religious organizations businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 1,481,370 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a religious organizations business?
- Startup costs for a religious organizations business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the religious organizations industry?
- The average employee in the religious organizations industry earns $38K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The religious organizations industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 2.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (5.3% entry vs 4.8% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 78% of religious organizations businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 7,198 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the religious organizations industry earns $37,647/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 25,826 establishments employing 197,051 people, the typical business has about 8 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The religious organizations industry has grown 10% since 2000 (from 160,567 to 176,829 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Religious Organizations revenue with other industries: