Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps — Business Survival Rate

An estimated 66% of rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, and workers' camps businesses survive their first 5 years, based on U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. The annual business closure rate is 8.0%.

66%
5-Year Survival Rate
-1.3%
Net Growth Rate
1,331
Total Firms
90
Annual Firm Deaths

Is Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps a Good Business to Start?

With a 66% five-year survival rate, rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, and workers' camps 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 8.0% 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)10.0%
Exit Rate (closures)8.0%

Net positive: more businesses opening than closing (+2.0 pp spread).

Job Creation & Destruction

18.2%
Job Creation Rate
19.5%
Job Destruction Rate
-1.3%
Net Job Growth

The industry is losing jobs faster than creating them — which may indicate automation, consolidation, or declining demand. Total employment: 9,789 workers across 1,331 firms.

Want to know how much rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, and workers' camps businesses actually make?

See full revenue benchmarks for Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, and workers' camps businesses fail?
Approximately 34% of rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, and workers' camps businesses fail within their first 5 years. The annual closure rate is 8.0%, with 90 firms closing permanently in 2023.
Is the rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, and workers' camps industry growing or shrinking?
The rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, and workers' camps industry is currently stable with a net job creation rate of -1.3% per year. New businesses are entering at 10.0% while 8.0% close annually.

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