[2024] How Much Do Boutique Owners Make in The US

Ever wondered how much boutique owners actually make in the US? 
If you're curious about the money side of running a boutique, you're in the right spot. In this blog, we'll be taking a close look at just how much does a boutique owner make in a year. Whether you're dreaming of starting your own shop or simply interested in the business side of things, we've got the answers. 
So, if you're ready to learn about boutique owner salary, let's discover the topics we will cover:
Is Owning a Boutique Profitable?
How Much Do Boutique Owners Make?
How Much Do Online Boutiques Make?
Is Owning a Boutique Profitable?
The short answer is: YES! By stocking highly sought-after merchandise and following a profitable business model, any clothing boutique can show lucrative profits. Once your boutique shows increased revenues, you will see a potential rise in boutique owner profit.
However, like any business, success can vary depending on factors like location, marketing strategies, and industry trends. Overall, with dedication and a well-thought-out business approach, owning a boutique can be a profitable business. 
As Lonca, our customer based is formed with boutique owners. We are constantly in touch with them to learn more about their wants and needs. We also discuss with them about the current situation of their business. What we've understood is that the key to a profitable and sustainable business is to establish a well-organized business. 
For a detailed and numbers-based explanation, just keep reading below.
How Much Do Boutique Owners Make?
If you Google the keyword "how much do boutique owners make" (which you might have done if you're reading this), you'll see websites like ZipRecruiter giving an annual boutique owner salary saying that their estimates are derived from employer job postings and third party data sources. 
However, as Lonca, we do not believe that their data represents the truth. That is because just last year, in 2022, ZipRecruiter was claiming that the annual salary for boutique owners was $78,431 and in 2023, they are claiming that it has gone up to $131,526.
From a logical perspective, we do not believe that the amount a boutique owner makes in a year can almost double in only one year. 
We know that before you invest capital into a boutique, it's important to know whether owning a boutique is profitable. So, allow us to provide you with accurate statistics on how much boutique owners make before websites like ZipRecruiter present random numbers.
Potential Salary of Successful Boutique Owners
As you’re setting up your boutique, it’s important to remember that several factors will determine your profits. Some of these include:
Products sold per month
Overhead expenses, such as rent and utilities
Cost of inventory
Cost of salaries
Cost of business loans
Cost of marketing
When considering your potential clothing boutique salary, it’s important to understand how the overall industry is doing financially. To give you an idea, we’ve included the general industry data. In the graph below you’ll see the average cost of all industries vs the sector costs. The industry refers to a specific group of companies, clothing boutiques in this case, while the sector provides details on a whole segment of the economy.
This graph shows you the percentage of revenue you’re most likely to make as a boutique owner. For example, you can make 13.5% wages and 1.2% profit as shown in the image below. If you sell $20,000 worth of stock in a month, you can make more or less $3,000 with a boutique.
The secret to making your boutique profitable and sustainable lies in decreasing your expenses and increasing your sales. By focusing on these two key points, you’ll see a rapid rise in your ROI! For instance, according to the data we shared above more than 50% percent of the cost is coming from wholesale purchasing if you can decrease the cost with bulk ordering or by finding more affordable vendors from overseas you can increase your margin. 
Also, you can save on costs if you run an online boutique instead of renting a store that makes up around 10% of the costs.
How Much Do Online Boutiques Make?
There is no doubt that the main difference between an online and brick-and-mortar boutique is the presence of a physical store. For an online boutique, instead of allocating funds towards a physical space and utilities, you'll be investing in a website builder. However, there is a substantial disparity between renting a space and subscribing to a web hosting service.
For instance, the maximum amount you would pay to Shopify is $399 per month, whereas rent could range between $1000 and $3000. Utilities at $500 a month, of course, would further increase the cost.
Let's assume that you're using Advanced Shopify and paying $500 with apps in total. You need to compare this with the combined cost of rent and utilities, which would make up 12% of the total expenses, reducing it to 3%.
In that case if you sell $20,000 worth of stock in a month, you can make more or less $4,500 with an online boutique.
How Much You Can Make with a Boutique?
In conclusion, if you've ever wondered how much boutique owners make in the US, the answer is clear: owning a boutique can be a good way to earn money. Especially considering that recent data shows that the average yearly earnings for a boutique owner in the U.S. have gone up. 
This means that running a boutique can be a profitable choice. So, if you love fashion and business, starting your own boutique could be a great opportunity. Take a step towards making your boutique dreams a reality and explore the potential this growing market has to offer.
If you're looking to increase your margin, we recommend you to check Lonca's wholesale women's clothing category to buy good quality affordable prices with no minimum order quantity.