{
  "name": "San Francisco Retail store Profit Margin Benchmarks",
  "description": "Gross margin, net margin, cost-share, labor, and market-size benchmarks for independent retail stores in San Francisco, California. Ranges are planning benchmarks for owner-operated businesses, not forecasts.",
  "version": "2026 city benchmark edition",
  "city": "San Francisco",
  "state": "California",
  "industry": "Retail store",
  "reviewStatus": "screening",
  "coverage": "Independent retail store operators in San Francisco, California; 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/san-francisco/",
  "citation": "HustleFin (2026). San Francisco Retail store Profit Margin Benchmarks. Retrieved from https://hustlefin.com/benchmarks/retail/city/san-francisco/",
  "metrics": [
    {
      "key": "gross_margin_pct",
      "label": "Gross margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 38,
      "average": 46,
      "high": 55
    },
    {
      "key": "net_margin_pct",
      "label": "Net margin",
      "unit": "percent",
      "low": 0,
      "average": 2,
      "high": 4
    },
    {
      "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": 9,
      "average": 12,
      "high": 15
    },
    {
      "key": "typical_revenue",
      "label": "Typical revenue",
      "unit": "text",
      "value": "$300,000 – $4,000,000/year for independent SF retailers"
    }
  ],
  "labor": {
    "minimumWage": "$18.67/hr (SF city, no tip credit)",
    "stateMinimumWage": "$16.50/hr (California state, 2025)",
    "note": "Plus SF Health Care Security Ordinance employer healthcare spending requirement."
  },
  "market": [
    {
      "label": "Estimated stores",
      "value": 9200
    },
    {
      "label": "Commercial rent range",
      "value": "$30–70/sqft (Mission/SoMa/Marina), $25–40/sqft (Richmond/Sunset)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Sales tax (general)",
      "value": "8.625% combined (6.0% CA state + 2.625% SF County)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Special fees",
      "value": "SF Health Care Security Ordinance; CA state 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": "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 of San Francisco",
      "url": "https://www.sf.gov/",
      "note": "City business registration, health permits, and local labor standards."
    }
  ]
}