Energy Costs as a Percentage of Sales

The graph below was created using Google’s chart tools.

The vertical bar graph shows the energy costs as a percentage of sales for small companies in 10 business sectors.

The data in the graph is based on US Census survey data reported by the US Census Bureau in 2002. The data was compiled in the study “Characterization and Analysis of Small Business Energy Costs”, authored by Andy Bollman, published in 2008. The Small Business Administration's standards for small businesses, e.g. less than $10 million revenues for construction companies and less than $25 million revenues for manufacturing companies, were used.

All total, energy cost data in 18 business sectors were analyzed. Sub sectors in the agriculture sector had the highest energy costs as a percentage of revenues, around 20%

The data in the graph and in the report shows a wide range of energy costs for businesses, depending on the business sector. This data should be useful for companies as benchmark data to evaluate their energy cost performance.

The cost data is dated (2002). With rising energy costs in recent years (2011), the percentages may also have risen, especially if sales prices have not also risen.

Click here to go to the report with the energy costs data (PDF file).