Environmental Consulting Services — Business Survival Rate
An estimated 45% of environmental consulting services businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 14.7%.
Is Environmental Consulting a Good Business to Start?
With a 45% five-year survival rate, environmental consulting services is near the national average (~50%). This means roughly half of new entrants will still be operating after 5 years — typical business risk that rewards solid planning and execution.
The annual exit rate of 14.7% indicates moderate turnover. Success depends on differentiation, location, and operational efficiency rather than inherent industry advantages.
Entry vs. Exit Rates
Annual rate of new businesses opening versus existing businesses closing.
Net positive: more businesses opening than closing (+4.3 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: 1,687,249 workers across 162,559 firms.
Want to know how much environmental consulting services businesses actually make?
See full revenue benchmarks for Environmental Consulting Services →Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of environmental consulting services businesses fail?
- Approximately 55% of environmental consulting services businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 14.7%, with 21,311 firms closing permanently in 2023.
- Is the environmental consulting services industry growing or shrinking?
- The environmental consulting services industry is currently growing with a net job creation rate of +4.0% per year. New businesses are entering at 19.1% while 14.7% close annually.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.