Office Administrative Services — Business Survival Rate
An estimated 57% of office administrative services businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 10.7%.
Is Office Administrative a Good Business to Start?
With a 57% five-year survival rate, office administrative 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 10.7% 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 (+2.6 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: 587,874 workers across 29,033 firms.
Want to know how much office administrative services businesses actually make?
See full revenue benchmarks for Office Administrative Services →Frequently Asked Questions
- What percentage of office administrative services businesses fail?
- Approximately 43% of office administrative services businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 10.7%, with 2,724 firms closing permanently in 2023.
- Is the office administrative services industry growing or shrinking?
- The office administrative services industry is currently growing with a net job creation rate of +5.3% per year. New businesses are entering at 13.3% while 10.7% close annually.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.