Zoos and Botanical Gardens Revenue Benchmarks
The average zoos and botanical gardens business in the United States generates $5.3M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 678 zoos and botanical gardens businesses in the U.S., employing 34,013 workers with an average profit margin of 12.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $42K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Zoos and Botanical Gardens Business Actually Do?
Zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens — most are 501(c)(3) non-profits. Include AZA-accredited institutions and roadside attractions.
Who buys: Families, tourists, members, school groups, donors.
Average Revenue
$5.3M
per year
Profit Margin
12.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$106K
per year
Total Businesses
678
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$636K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$42K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Zoos and Botanical Gardens Charge?
Zoos and botanical gardens charge admission plus premium experiences and memberships.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Adult admission | $15–35 |
Annual membership (family) | $95–225 |
Behind-the-scenes tour | $50–200 per person |
Facility rental (evening event) | $5,000–50,000 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete zoos and botanical gardens business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a zoos and botanical gardens 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 zoos and botanical gardens 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Production & performer costs | $14 | $763K | Talent fees, equipment rentals, production supplies, licensing/royalties. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $2.1M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $10 | $509K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $254K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $1.0M | Insurance, ticketing fees, venue maintenance, security. |
Net profit | $12 | $636K | 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
5.3%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.98%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+7.44%
annual
Businesses Closed
293
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Zoos and Botanical Gardens Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
3 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a zoos and botanical gardens business do?
- Zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens — most are 501(c)(3) non-profits. Include AZA-accredited institutions and roadside attractions. Families, tourists, members, school groups, donors.
- How much do zoos and botanical gardens charge?
- Zoos and botanical gardens charge admission plus premium experiences and memberships. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average zoos and botanical gardens make per year?
- The average zoos and botanical gardens business generates $5.3M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $636K per year at a 12.0% profit margin.
- How many zoos and botanical gardens businesses are there in the US?
- There are 678 zoos and botanical gardens businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 34,013 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a zoos and botanical gardens business?
- Startup costs for a zoos and botanical gardens business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the zoos and botanical gardens industry?
- The average employee in the zoos and botanical gardens industry earns $42K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The zoos and botanical gardens industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 7.4% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (5.3% entry vs 5.0% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 77% of zoos and botanical gardens businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 293 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the zoos and botanical gardens industry earns $41,865/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 891 establishments employing 46,728 people, the typical business has about 52 employees. These tend to be larger operations requiring significant staffing investment.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The zoos and botanical gardens industry has grown 39% since 2000 (from 5,094 to 7,106 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Zoos and Botanical Gardens revenue with other industries: