Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance — Business Survival Rate
An estimated 66% of commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 7.9%.
Is Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment a Good Business to Start?
With a 66% five-year survival rate, commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance 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 7.9% 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.
Net positive: more businesses opening than closing (+2.1 pp spread).
Job Creation & Destruction
The industry is adding jobs faster than losing them — a positive sign for both workers and new business owners looking to hire. Total employment: 220,226 workers across 18,668 firms.
Want to know how much commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance businesses actually make?
See full revenue benchmarks for Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance →Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance businesses fail?
- Approximately 34% of commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 7.9%, with 1,322 firms closing permanently in 2023.
- Is the commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance industry growing or shrinking?
- The commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance industry is currently growing with a net job creation rate of +5.2% per year. New businesses are entering at 10.0% while 7.9% close annually.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.