{
  "name": "Denver Retail store Profit Margin Benchmarks",
  "description": "Gross margin, net margin, cost-share, labor, and market-size benchmarks for independent retail stores in Denver, Colorado. Ranges are planning benchmarks for owner-operated businesses, not forecasts.",
  "version": "2026 city benchmark edition",
  "city": "Denver",
  "state": "Colorado",
  "industry": "Retail store",
  "reviewStatus": "screening",
  "coverage": "Independent retail store operators in Denver, Colorado; national chains, franchise groups, and multi-unit operators excluded unless noted",
  "dataCompiledAt": "June 22, 2026",
  "sourcesVerifiedAt": "2026-09-27",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "sourcePage": "https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/retail/city/denver/",
  "citation": "HustleFin (2026). Denver Retail store Profit Margin Benchmarks. Retrieved from https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/retail/city/denver/",
  "metrics": [
    {
      "key": "gross_margin_pct",
      "label": "Gross margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 35,
      "average": 43,
      "high": 52
    },
    {
      "key": "net_margin_pct",
      "label": "Net margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 1,
      "average": 3,
      "high": 5
    },
    {
      "key": "labor_cost_pct",
      "label": "Labor cost (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 13,
      "average": 17,
      "high": 21
    },
    {
      "key": "occupancy_cost_pct",
      "label": "Occupancy cost (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 6,
      "average": 9,
      "high": 11
    },
    {
      "key": "typical_revenue",
      "label": "Typical revenue",
      "unit": "text",
      "value": "$220,000 – $3,000,000/year for independent Denver retailers"
    }
  ],
  "labor": {
    "minimumWage": "$19.29/hr (Denver city, no tip credit)",
    "stateMinimumWage": "$14.81/hr (Colorado state, 2025)",
    "note": "City wage indexed annually. Colorado flat 4.4% income tax on owner profit."
  },
  "market": [
    {
      "label": "Estimated stores",
      "value": 6900
    },
    {
      "label": "Commercial rent range",
      "value": "$25–32/sqft (RiNo/LoHi), $18–24/sqft (South Broadway/Colfax)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Sales tax (general)",
      "value": "~8.81% combined (CO state + Denver city/RTD/county)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Special fees",
      "value": "Colorado flat 4.4% income tax on owner profit"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — OEWS",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/",
      "note": "Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; the basis for the wage figures used in the labor snapshot."
    },
    {
      "label": "Colorado Department of Revenue",
      "url": "https://tax.colorado.gov/",
      "note": "State sales tax and local tax collection rules."
    },
    {
      "label": "U.S. Census Bureau",
      "url": "https://www.census.gov/",
      "note": "Federal statistical baseline for population, business counts, and local market size."
    },
    {
      "label": "The Retail Owners Institute — Key Retail Benchmarks",
      "url": "https://retailowner.com/Retail-Benchmarks/Key-Retail-Benchmarks",
      "note": "Retail ratio benchmarks by NAICS segment (gross margin, inventory turnover, GMROI) built on RMA Annual Statement Studies data."
    },
    {
      "label": "City and County of Denver",
      "url": "https://www.denvergov.org/",
      "note": "City business licensing, sales tax, and local fee schedules."
    }
  ]
}