All Other Legal Services — Business Survival Rate

An estimated 64% of all other legal services businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 8.5%.

64%
5-Year Survival Rate
+0.7%
Net Growth Rate
147,965
Total Firms
11,798
Annual Firm Deaths

Is All Other Legal a Good Business to Start?

With a 64% five-year survival rate, all other legal services has an above-average survival rate compared to the national average of roughly 50%. This makes it a relatively safe industry to enter — businesses here tend to find stable demand and sustainable economics.

The annual exit rate of 8.5% is lower than many sectors, suggesting that once established, these businesses have staying power. That said, lower failure rates often correlate with higher barriers to entry or established competition.

Entry vs. Exit Rates

Annual rate of new businesses opening versus existing businesses closing.

Entry Rate (new businesses)7.8%
Exit Rate (closures)8.5%

Net negative: more businesses closing than opening (-0.7 pp spread).

Job Creation & Destruction

11.8%
Job Creation Rate
11.1%
Job Destruction Rate
+0.7%
Net Job Growth

The industry is adding jobs faster than losing them — a positive sign for both workers and new business owners looking to hire. Total employment: 1,192,566 workers across 147,965 firms.

Want to know how much all other legal services businesses actually make?

See full revenue benchmarks for All Other Legal Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of all other legal services businesses fail?
Approximately 36% of all other legal services businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 8.5%, with 11,798 firms closing permanently in 2023.
Is the all other legal services industry growing or shrinking?
The all other legal services industry is currently stable with a net job creation rate of +0.7% per year. New businesses are entering at 7.8% while 8.5% close annually.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.