Medical Laboratories — Business Survival Rate
An estimated 59% of medical laboratories businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 10.0%.
Is Medical Laboratories a Good Business to Start?
With a 59% five-year survival rate, medical laboratories 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 10.0% 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 (+18.3 pp spread).
Job Creation & Destruction
The industry is losing jobs faster than creating them — which may indicate automation, consolidation, or declining demand. Total employment: 327,348 workers across 7,899 firms.
Want to know how much medical laboratories businesses actually make?
See full revenue benchmarks for Medical Laboratories →Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of medical laboratories businesses fail?
- Approximately 41% of medical laboratories businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 10.0%, with 822 firms closing permanently in 2023.
- Is the medical laboratories industry growing or shrinking?
- The medical laboratories industry is currently shrinking with a net job creation rate of -4.0% per year. New businesses are entering at 28.3% while 10.0% close annually.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.