FAQ / How many businesses open and close each year?

The number of nonemployer fi rms has risen steadily in this
decade, from 16.5 million in 2000 to an estimated 21.1
million in 2007. An estimated 637,100 new employer fi rms
began operations in 2007 and 560,300 fi rms closed that year.
Starts and Closures of Employer Firms, 2003–2007
Category 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
New Firms 612,296 628,917 644,122 640,800e 637,100e
Closures 540,658 541,047 565,745 587,800e 560,300e
Bankruptcies 35,037 34,317 39,201 19,695 28,322
2005 (www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs258tot.pdf).
Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census; Administrative
Offi ce of the U.S. Courts; U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employment and Training
Administration.