Commercial Screen Printing — Business Survival Rate
An estimated 67% of commercial screen printing businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 7.8%.
Is Commercial Screen Printing a Good Business to Start?
With a 67% five-year survival rate, commercial screen printing 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 7.8% 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 negative: more businesses closing than opening (-1.5 pp spread).
Job Creation & Destruction
The industry is losing jobs faster than creating them — which may indicate automation, consolidation, or declining demand. Total employment: 386,218 workers across 19,572 firms.
Want to know how much commercial screen printing businesses actually make?
See full revenue benchmarks for Commercial Screen Printing →Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of commercial screen printing businesses fail?
- Approximately 33% of commercial screen printing businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 7.8%, with 1,423 firms closing permanently in 2023.
- Is the commercial screen printing industry growing or shrinking?
- The commercial screen printing industry is currently stable with a net job creation rate of -0.6% per year. New businesses are entering at 6.3% while 7.8% close annually.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.