News Dealers and Newsstands — Business Survival Rate
An estimated 69% of news dealers and newsstands businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 7.3%.
Is News Dealers and Newsstands a Good Business to Start?
With a 69% five-year survival rate, news dealers and newsstands 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 7.3% 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 (-0.7 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: 52,904 workers across 3,004 firms.
Want to know how much news dealers and newsstands businesses actually make?
See full revenue benchmarks for News Dealers and Newsstands →Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of news dealers and newsstands businesses fail?
- Approximately 31% of news dealers and newsstands businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 7.3%, with 262 firms closing permanently in 2023.
- Is the news dealers and newsstands industry growing or shrinking?
- The news dealers and newsstands industry is currently growing with a net job creation rate of +3.1% per year. New businesses are entering at 6.5% while 7.3% close annually.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.