Repossession Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average repossession services business in the United States generates $881K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 587 repossession services businesses in the U.S., employing 7,286 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $53K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Repossession Business Actually Do?
Repo agents recovering financed vehicles, equipment, and other collateral for lenders. Also skip-tracing services.
Who buys: Auto lenders, equipment finance companies, credit unions.
Average Revenue
$881K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$71K
per year
Total Businesses
587
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$70K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$53K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Repossession Services Charge?
Repo agents earn per repossession recovered plus flat fees for skip tracing.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Auto repossession fee (per unit) | $300–500 |
Skip tracing (per case) | $50–250 |
Storage fee (per day) | $15–75/day |
Field visit fee (no recovery) | $25–75 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete repossession business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a repossession services 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 repossession services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $7 | $65K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $485K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $49K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $33K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $20 | $179K | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $70K | 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
8.81%
openings/year
Closure Rate
13.14%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-7.8%
annual
Businesses Closed
2,058
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Repossession Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
26 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a repossession services business do?
- Repo agents recovering financed vehicles, equipment, and other collateral for lenders. Also skip-tracing services. Auto lenders, equipment finance companies, credit unions.
- How much do repossession services charge?
- Repo agents earn per repossession recovered plus flat fees for skip tracing. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average repossession services make per year?
- The average repossession services business generates $881K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $70K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many repossession services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 587 repossession services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 7,286 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a repossession services business?
- Startup costs for a repossession services business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the repossession services industry?
- The average employee in the repossession services industry earns $53K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The repossession services industry is contracting — losing jobs at a net rate of 7.8% per year. More establishments are closing (13.1%) than opening (8.8%), suggesting market challenges.
Approximately 49% of repossession services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 2,058 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the repossession services industry earns $53,079/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 839 establishments employing 6,493 people, the typical business has about 8 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The repossession services industry has declined 23% since 2000 (from 25,410 to 19,450 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Repossession Services revenue with other industries: