# Sole Proprietor Profit Margins and Expense Benchmarks by Industry

> Explore IRS sole-proprietor receipts, deductions and net income by service industry, with transparent aggregate profit and expense ratios and source…

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Last updated: 2026-09-12

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Explore IRS sole-proprietor receipts, deductions and net income by service industry, with transparent aggregate profit and expense ratios and source downloads.

[Research and calculations by Workspace369](https://workspace369.com/about/)Published September 12, 2026Updated September 12, 2026

Measured population

U.S. nonfarm sole-proprietorship returns with and without net income; Schedule C tax data, including businesses with employees

Observation period

Tax year 2023; IRS table published March 2026

Sources checked

September 12, 2026

[Read the methodology ↗](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology)

[Download data · CSV](https://workspace369.com/downloads/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks.csv)[Source ledger · JSON](https://workspace369.com/downloads/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks.json)[Cite this report ↗](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#cite)

2026 edition

## Key takeaways

Each takeaway links to its canonical data row. Reported figures belong to their cited producer; modeled results are labeled as calculations.

1. [All nonfarm industries: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 18.28% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-1-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
2. [Information: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 24.64% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-63-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
3. [Professional, scientific, and technical services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 39.7% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-96-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
4. [Legal services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 43.77% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-97-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
5. [Offices of certified public accountants: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 44.79% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-98-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
6. [Other accounting services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 39.25% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-99-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
7. [Specialized design services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 30.28% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-106-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
8. [Computer systems design services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 37.03% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-107-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
9. [Management, scientific, and technical consulting services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 50.25% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-109-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
10. [Scientific research and development services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 36.85% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-110-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
11. [Advertising and related services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 27.39% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-111-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation
12. [Educational services: calculated aggregate net income less deficit / receipts: 29.41% (Tax year 2023).](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#industry-118-netIncome-ratio)Workspace369 calculation

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![A receipts folder and expense envelopes rest on a paper balance beside a coin tray, illustrating sole-proprietor income and expenses.](https://workspace369.com/images/research/sole-proprietor-income-expenses.webp)

AI-generated editorial illustration; not a data visualization.

## What do sole proprietors report in receipts and net income?

The IRS reports receipts, deductions and net income less deficit for businesses with and without a profit. Keeping loss-making returns in the population avoids presenting profitable-only results as the whole industry.

Scroll horizontally to compare all columns →

**Sole-proprietor profit and expenses — Tax year 2023; IRS table published March 2026. United States.**

| Industry or published group | Returns | Receipts (USD thousands) | Deductions (USD thousands) | Net income less deficit (USD thousands) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All nonfarm industries | [31,125,909](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$2,063,191,945.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,687,308,383.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$377,210,993.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Information | [474,628](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$16,621,647.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$12,675,426.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$4,095,534.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | [3,912,417](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$250,227,539.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$151,043,747.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$99,328,388.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Legal services | [316,370](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$43,229,954.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$24,302,244.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$18,921,033.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Offices of certified public accountants | [28,476](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$4,181,407.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$2,308,447.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,872,959.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Other accounting services | [333,080](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$11,707,891.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$7,137,974.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$4,595,590.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Specialized design services | [306,934](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$14,332,404.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$9,990,938.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$4,340,075.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Computer systems design services | [318,183](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$16,799,666.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$10,570,563.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$6,220,488.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | [1,109,907](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$67,087,060.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$33,480,600.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$33,709,178.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Scientific research and development services | [64,361](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,906,442.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,223,002.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$702,511.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Advertising and related services | [179,434](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$13,628,176.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$9,905,935.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$3,732,166.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Educational services | [862,502](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$16,807,961.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$11,896,058.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$4,942,946.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |

The all-industry and professional-service totals overlap their selected subindustries. Do not add them together. These are tax-return estimates, not audited financial statements for a typical firm.

Primary source: [Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income — checked September 12, 2026](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#source-irs)

## How much do sole proprietors report in selected expenses?

Advertising, contract labor, and salaries and wages are distinct expense lines in the IRS income statement. The table preserves the published aggregates before calculating revenue shares.

Scroll horizontally to compare all columns →

**Sole-proprietor profit and expenses — Tax year 2023; IRS table published March 2026. United States.**

| Industry or published group | Advertising (USD thousands) | Contract labor (USD thousands) | Salaries and wages (USD thousands) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All nonfarm industries | [$24,294,438.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$113,575,079.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$121,796,125.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Information | [$542,663.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,105,611.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$802,871.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | [$4,156,983.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$11,649,909.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$15,340,538.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Legal services | [$809,885.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,356,972.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$4,186,714.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Offices of certified public accountants | [$44,906.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$107,669.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$698,351.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Other accounting services | [$209,079.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$468,650.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$790,691.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Specialized design services | [$252,687.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$545,554.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$331,795.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Computer systems design services | [$287,071.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,260,771.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$1,074,548.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | [$1,086,100.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$3,465,885.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$2,524,765.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Scientific research and development services | [$5,916.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$70,439.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$133,132.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Advertising and related services | [$492,418.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$718,446.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$690,545.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |
| Educational services | [$294,992.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$812,925.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) | [$980,542.00](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls) |

These selected costs are part of total deductions and must not be added to that total again. Salaries and wages do not represent a valuation of the proprietor’s own unpaid labor.

Primary source: [Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income — checked September 12, 2026](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#source-irs)

## What are the aggregate profit and expense ratios by industry?

Each ratio divides one industry’s published amount by its receipts. The result is a revenue-weighted aggregate benchmark, not the average or median of individual business profit margins.

Scroll horizontally to compare all columns →

**Sole-proprietor profit and expenses — Tax year 2023; IRS table published March 2026. United States.**

| Industry or published group | Net income / receipts | Deductions / receipts | Advertising / receipts | Contract labor / receipts | Wages / receipts |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All nonfarm industries | [18.28%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [81.78%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.18%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [5.5%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [5.9%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Information | [24.64%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [76.26%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [3.26%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [6.65%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [4.83%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | [39.7%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [60.36%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.66%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [4.66%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [6.13%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Legal services | [43.77%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [56.22%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.87%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [3.14%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [9.68%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Offices of certified public accountants | [44.79%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [55.21%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.07%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [2.57%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [16.7%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Other accounting services | [39.25%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [60.97%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.79%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [4%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [6.75%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Specialized design services | [30.28%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [69.71%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.76%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [3.81%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [2.31%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Computer systems design services | [37.03%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [62.92%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.71%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [7.5%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [6.4%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | [50.25%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [49.91%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.62%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [5.17%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [3.76%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Scientific research and development services | [36.85%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [64.15%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [0.31%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [3.69%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [6.98%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Advertising and related services | [27.39%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [72.69%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [3.61%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [5.27%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [5.07%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |
| Educational services | [29.41%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [70.78%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [1.76%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [4.84%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) | [5.83%](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#methodology) |

Workspace369 calculations. Ratios use net income less deficit, including losses. Net-income and deduction shares need not sum to 100%: IRS footnote 1 identifies passive-loss and carryover adjustments.

Primary source: [Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income — checked September 12, 2026](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#source-irs)

## Are these agency operating margins or owner take-home pay?

No. Schedule C net income uses tax definitions and does not price the proprietor’s own labor as a salary expense. It is not corporate operating profit, a pure agency benchmark, or after-tax owner pay.

Business structure, size, accounting treatment and service mix differ. Use the figures as descriptive context, not tax advice or a recommended margin.

Primary sources: [Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income — checked September 12, 2026](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#source-irs) · [Internal Revenue Service — checked September 12, 2026](https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/#source-irs-about)

## Methodology and limitations

1. We extracted selected industries from IRS SOI Table 2, TAB2 worksheet, for tax year 2023. The source footer states March 2026; we do not invent a publication day. Every observation retains its spreadsheet cell locator.
2. The population is businesses with and without net income. Dollar amounts remain in the original thousands-of-dollars units. The IRS estimates are sample-based; table detail may not add to totals because of rounding.
3. Workspace369 calculates each ratio directly from the published aggregate numerator and aggregate receipts. It does not average business-level ratios or infer a median margin from these totals.
4. IRS footnote 1 states that total deductions precede some passive-activity-loss and carryover adjustments reflected in net income. Receipts minus deductions therefore need not equal net income less deficit. We retain the published values rather than forcing an accounting identity.

### What these numbers cannot tell you

- These data concern Schedule C nonfarm sole proprietorships, not S corporations, partnerships or all agencies. Some sole proprietors have employees.
- The net-income ratio includes the return to owner labor and capital before personal income-tax effects. It is not directly comparable to a corporation’s operating margin.
- This is a tax-year cross-section, not a forecast, a pricing recommendation, or individualized accounting or tax advice.

### Freshness and corrections

Maintained by the Workspace369 editorial team. Review annually when the next primary release is available; check source links quarterly. The edition date changes only when the evidence or content is substantively reviewed; it does not change the underlying observation period.

First edition: September 12, 2026. Data extraction, source attribution and arithmetic checked for this edition. No independent peer review is claimed.

Found an error or a newer primary release? [Send a correction with the source and affected statistic](mailto:support@workspace369.com?subject=Research%20correction%3A%20Sole%20Proprietor%20Profit%20Margins%20and%20Expense%20Benchmarks%20by%20Industry). Confirmed corrections are recorded below before republishing.

### Revision history

Evidence dates above describe the report. Download and citation updates below do not imply that sources were checked again.

- October 10, 2026 — Versioned CSV and JSON archives, checksums and reference-manager exports added. Source observations and evidence dates are unchanged.

## Primary sources and provenance

Every reported numeric cell links directly to its producer. The downloads include exact table or workbook locators, observation periods, access dates, formulas and input references.

1. **Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income**[Table 2: Nonfarm Sole Proprietorships, Income Statements by Industrial Sectors, Tax Year 2023 (March 2026) ↗](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/23sp02is.xls)Publication date not recorded; see the original source. Accessed September 12, 2026.U.S. federal government data; attribution requested. No agency endorsement. Source file fingerprint (SHA-256) `fcc458d3e759a89ef90d3b6e4c8e512dccfe16f03d44f8aa2246bd2d412f5978`
2. **Internal Revenue Service**[SOI nonfarm sole proprietorship statistics: scope and original tables ↗](https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-nonfarm-sole-proprietorship-statistics)Publication date not recorded; see the original source. Accessed September 12, 2026.U.S. federal government data; attribution requested. No agency endorsement.

## How to cite this report

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> Workspace369. (2026-09-12). Sole Proprietor Profit Margins and Expense Benchmarks by Industry. https://workspace369.com/research/sole-proprietor-profit-margin-benchmarks/. Primary sources and observation periods as listed in the report.

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