As of 2022 independent bookstores had 2023 locations in the US.
In 2020 Bookshop.org, an online bookstore dedicated to financially supporting independent bookstores, launched due to the pandemic. The independent bookstores received 30% of sales made through the site.
As of 2021 Bookshop.org raised $15,429,000 for Independent bookstores.
As of 2009 independent bookstore numbers had 1,401 bookstores in 1,651 locations.
This number has steadily increased over the last number of years and peaked in 2019 with independent bookstores having 1,887 bookstores and 2,524 locations.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic however, this number decreased again in 2020 to 1,700 stores and 2,100 locations, close to independent bookstore numbers back in 2015.
Displayed in the charts below are the number of Independent bookstores and number of locations since 2009:
Year
Number of bookstores (thousands)
2022
2506
2021
1701
2020
1700
2019
1887
2018
1835
2017
1757
2016
1775
2015
1712
2014
1664
2013
1632
2012
1567
2011
1512
2010
1410
2009
1401
Year
Number of locations (thousands)
2022
2023
2021
1689
2020
2100
2019
2524
2018
2470
2017
2321
2016
2311
2015
2227
2014
2100
2013
1971
2012
1900
2011
1823
2010
1660
2009
1651
Independent nonemployer bookstore statistics
Nonemployer bookstores generated $327,860 in sales in 2019.
This is a decline of $72,602 compared to the $400,462 that was generated in sales in 2012.
According to the Census Bureau, 8,109 non-employer bookstores were counted in the United States in 2018.
Nearly 30% (2,396) of non-employer bookstores earned less than $5,000 in total sales in 2018.
Since 2012 there has been a steady decline in the number of nonemployer bookstores. As of 2019 there are 7,742 nonemployer bookstores, that’s 1,379 less compared to 2012.
Displayed in the charts below are the number of non-employer bookstores and their revenue:
Year
Number of nonemployer bookstores
2019
7742
2018
8109
2017
8264
2016
8829
2015
8915
2014
8910
2013
9121
2012
9575
Year
Revenue ($ thousands)
2019
327,860
2018
339,772
2017
332,112
2016
338,127
2015
354,615
2014
368,370
2013
386,602
2012
400,462
Independent bookstore FAQ’s
Q: What makes a bookstore independent? A: An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned. Usually, independent stores consist of only a single actual store.
Q: Are independent bookstores thriving? A: With a demand for “real recommendations from real people,” more than 300 bookstores have opened in the past few years according to the New York Times.
Q: Can independent bookstores make money? A: Most bookstores stock their inventory at 30% to 45% wholesale discount, translating to a profit margin of 2% to 3%, after expenses.
Q: What is the average conversion rate for an online independent bookstore? A: A few books command conversion rates of 10% (1 out of 10) or more, but there are also a significant number of books with conversion rates well below 1% (1 out of 100).
Q: What is the largest independent bookstore in the world? A: Powell’s City of Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world, home to more than 1 million new, used and rare books.
Q: Why shop at independent bookstsores? A: Independent bookstores take pride in finding, reading, highlighting, and reviewing debut novels from a diverse range of voices. This resource is invaluable to written art & cannot be lost.
