{
  "name": "New York City Retail store Profit Margin Benchmarks",
  "description": "Gross margin, net margin, cost-share, labor, and market-size benchmarks for independent retail stores in New York City, New York. Ranges are planning benchmarks for owner-operated businesses, not forecasts.",
  "version": "2026 city benchmark edition",
  "city": "New York City",
  "state": "New York",
  "industry": "Retail store",
  "reviewStatus": "screening",
  "coverage": "Independent retail store operators in New York City, New York; 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/new-york-city/",
  "citation": "HustleFin (2026). New York City Retail store Profit Margin Benchmarks. Retrieved from https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/retail/city/new-york-city/",
  "metrics": [
    {
      "key": "gross_margin_pct",
      "label": "Gross margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 38,
      "average": 47,
      "high": 56
    },
    {
      "key": "net_margin_pct",
      "label": "Net margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 0,
      "average": 3,
      "high": 5
    },
    {
      "key": "labor_cost_pct",
      "label": "Labor cost (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 11,
      "average": 15,
      "high": 19
    },
    {
      "key": "occupancy_cost_pct",
      "label": "Occupancy cost (% of revenue)",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 8,
      "average": 12,
      "high": 16
    },
    {
      "key": "typical_revenue",
      "label": "Typical revenue",
      "unit": "text",
      "value": "$350,000 – $6,000,000/year for independent NYC retailers"
    }
  ],
  "labor": {
    "minimumWage": "$16.00/hr (NYC — all employers)",
    "stateMinimumWage": "$15.50/hr (upstate New York, 2025)",
    "note": "No tip credit for most retail. NYC and NY State income taxes apply to owner profit."
  },
  "market": [
    {
      "label": "Estimated stores",
      "value": 44000
    },
    {
      "label": "Commercial rent range",
      "value": "$60–120/sqft (Manhattan prime), $35–55/sqft (Brooklyn/Queens), $20–35/sqft (outer boroughs)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Sales tax (general)",
      "value": "8.875% combined; clothing/footwear under $110 exempt"
    },
    {
      "label": "Special fees",
      "value": "Commercial Rent Tax (CRT) on some Manhattan tenants; NYC + NY State income tax"
    }
  ],
  "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": "New York State Department of Taxation and Finance",
      "url": "https://www.tax.ny.gov/",
      "note": "State and local sales tax rates, including NYC and MCTD surcharges."
    },
    {
      "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": "NYC Department of Finance",
      "url": "https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/index.page",
      "note": "NYC business taxes, licensing, and enforcement."
    }
  ]
}