Offices of Certified Public Accountants — Business Survival Rate

An estimated 62% of offices of certified public accountants businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 9.2%.

62%
5-Year Survival Rate
+4.2%
Net Growth Rate
104,020
Total Firms
8,967
Annual Firm Deaths

Is Offices of Certified Public Accountants a Good Business to Start?

With a 62% five-year survival rate, offices of certified public accountants 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 9.2% 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.

Entry Rate (new businesses)9.7%
Exit Rate (closures)9.2%

Net positive: more businesses opening than closing (+0.4 pp spread).

Job Creation & Destruction

15.1%
Job Creation Rate
10.8%
Job Destruction Rate
+4.2%
Net Job Growth

The industry is adding jobs faster than losing them — a positive sign for both workers and new business owners looking to hire. Total employment: 1,353,862 workers across 104,020 firms.

Want to know how much offices of certified public accountants businesses actually make?

See full revenue benchmarks for Offices of Certified Public Accountants →

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of offices of certified public accountants businesses fail?
Approximately 38% of offices of certified public accountants businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 9.2%, with 8,967 firms closing permanently in 2023.
Is the offices of certified public accountants industry growing or shrinking?
The offices of certified public accountants industry is currently growing with a net job creation rate of +4.2% per year. New businesses are entering at 9.7% while 9.2% close annually.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023). Survival rate estimated from annual exit rates.