Business Survivability Rankings: New York City
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks business survivability in New York City by survivability score. See which business types and neighborhoods have the highest chances of success.
Quick Summary
- Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
- Best business: Veterinary Clinic in Brighton Beach (90% survival rate)
- 10441 business-location combinations project 80% or better two-year survival in New York City
- Geography: this ranking covers the New York City metro: New York's own neighborhoods plus 5 surrounding cities and towns (for example Harrison, Hoboken and New York). Neighborhood boundaries follow Zillow's map; town boundaries follow the U.S. Census.
- City average: 78% chance of lasting two or more years
- Rankings updated quarterly with latest market data
- Detailed methodology
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Bobby Koons, Founder & CEO, StreetSpring
Table of Contents
- Summary
- What Are My Chances of Success?
- Business Survivability Rankings
- Best Business in Each Category
- Understanding Survivability Ranges
- Most Important Factors
- Key Takeaways
- Strong Picks Across the Spectrum
- Related Resources
Summary
As of 2026, StreetSpring's analysis of New York City reveals 10441 business opportunities projecting 80% or better two-year survival, with Veterinary Clinic leading the rankings in Brighton Beach at 90%. Of all the decisions an entrepreneur makes, choosing the right location has the most outsized effect on long-term survival.
StreetSpring uses AI to predict business survivability across U.S. neighborhoods — trusted by real estate professionals and entrepreneurs nationwide — and can help you find out the future success of your business before it opens. We have been studying the businesses serving more than 180 million+ Americans.
Moreover, our analysis reveals significant variation across neighborhoods. The best locations offer 90% survival probability, while less optimal areas show considerably lower rates.
What Are My Chances of Success Opening a Business in New York City?
A New York City business has a 78% average chance of lasting more than 2 years based on latest data.
Yet, the location decision has more impact on two-year survival than any other variable. Of all the variables StreetSpring analyzes, Revenue Capture Score has the strongest predictive power. This metric estimates how effectively a business at a specific address can convert local foot traffic and spending into actual revenue.
What New Businesses Would Be the Most Successful in New York City?
The graph below depicts the distribution of business outcomes across New York City by survivability score bracket:
New York City: Veterinary Clinic ranks #1 in survivability at 90% — 2026 StreetSpring analysis
The top 10 business opportunities in New York City are:
| Rank | Business Type | Neighborhood | Best Locations | Average Locations | Challenging Locations | Location Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Veterinary Clinic | Brighton Beach | 90.0% – 90.0% | 86.0% – 88.0% | 80.0% – 82.0% | ~10% |
| 2 | Acupuncture Clinic | Co-op City | 88.0% – 90.0% | 85.0% – 87.0% | 81.0% – 83.0% | ~12% |
| 3 | Veterinary Clinic | Coney Island | 90.0% – 90.0% | 86.0% – 88.0% | 80.0% – 82.0% | ~10% |
| 4 | Acupuncture Clinic | Newark | 89.0% – 90.0% | 85.0% – 87.0% | 79.0% – 81.0% | ~12% |
| 5 | Chiropractor Office | Chinatown | 87.0% – 89.0% | 84.0% – 87.0% | 80.0% – 82.0% | ~9% |
| 6 | Chiropractor Office | Co-op City | 87.0% – 89.0% | 82.0% – 84.0% | 78.0% – 79.0% | ~17% |
| 7 | Dermatology Clinic | East New York | 87.0% – 89.0% | 80.0% – 82.0% | 71.0% – 73.0% | ~26% |
| 8 | Dentist Office | Bath Beach | 85.0% – 87.0% | 80.0% – 82.0% | 77.0% – 80.0% | ~17% |
| 9 | Physical Therapy Clinic | Bayside | 85.0% – 87.0% | 81.0% – 83.0% | 74.0% – 76.0% | ~13% |
| 10 | Mental Health Clinic | Brighton Beach | 85.0% – 87.0% | 82.0% – 84.0% | 78.0% – 80.0% | ~11% |
The best address in a weak neighborhood can outperform the worst address in a strong neighborhood — site-level analysis is essential. Rankings provide directional guidance, but the live survivability check accounts for week-to-week shifts in competitor openings, closures, and consumer spending.
Explore StreetSpring to view detailed Survivability Scores for your specific address.
Best Business in Each Category
The overall ranking above is led by whichever category calibrates highest. This table shows the single best business-location combination in New York City within each category, on the same two-year survival scale, so you can compare against the kind of business you actually plan to open.
| Category | Best business | Where | Best-case two-year survival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Medical | Acupuncture Clinic | Co-op City | 90% |
| Pets | Veterinary Clinic | Brighton Beach | 90% |
| Shopping | Eye Care Center | Coney Island | 87% |
| Nightlife | Dance Club | Brighton Beach | 86% |
| Local Services | Day Care Center | Brighton Beach | 86% |
| Restaurants | Chicken Shop | Brighton Beach | 85% |
| Beauty & Spas | Beauty Salon | Bayside | 84% |
| Active Life | Mixed Martial Arts Studio | Journal Square (Jersey City) | 84% |
| Food | Juice & Smoothie Bar | Grant City | 84% |
| Home Services | Home Improvement Store | Brighton Beach | 83% |
Understanding Survivability Ranges
The survivability you experience will depend on site-specific variables like corner vs. mid-block positioning, proximity to public transit, local median income, and the pace of new competitor openings in the trade area.
The ranges shown reflect the upper bound (optimal conditions within the location category), the lower bound (typical challenges in that market), and the width of the range, which represents local market volatility.
To put this in context, a Veterinary Clinic showing 86.0% – 88.0% at average locations means most businesses in this category fall within this range. A best-in-class location (90% survival) offers roughly 10% more expected business longevity than an average location (87%), because a higher survival probability translates directly into more operating time to generate revenue. Conversely, a challenging location (81%) represents 17% less expected longevity than the average — a meaningful risk differential that should factor into lease negotiations and capital planning. Execution quality, market timing, and exact storefront features determine your position within the range. A tight range suggests a stable, predictable market; a wide range indicates greater upside — and downside.
What Are the Most Important Factors for Businesses in New York City?
Revenue Capture Score
Revenue Capture Score is the single best indicator of whether a business will thrive at a location. The Revenue Capture Score reflects not just how many customers are nearby, but how many of those customers your business can realistically attract away from competitors. For example, a Veterinary Clinic in a high-revenue-capture area might survive even with moderate competition, while the same business in a low-capture area could struggle despite less competition.
Competition Quality and Saturation
When similar businesses cluster together, they collectively attract a larger customer base than any one could draw alone. However, too many operators chasing the same customers leads to margin compression that makes survival increasingly unlikely.
Tenant Mix and Neighborhood Dynamics
Complementary businesses nearby can drive additional customers to your door. Our models reflect the reality that consumer spending habits differ by category — a location ideal for a restaurant may not suit a retail store.
Hyperlocal Variation
Those scores shift from block to block as local conditions change. Our address-level precision means you can compare two specific storefronts side by side before choosing where to sign a lease.
What Is the #1 Business to Start in New York City?
Veterinary Clinic in Brighton Beach with 90% survivability based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis of 15,717 business and neighborhood combinations.
How Accurate Is StreetSpring's Survival Prediction?
With 100+ data factors and a plus or minus 3% margin of error, predictions land within the 95–99% accuracy range depending on business type and location. The model draws on competition, spending, mobility, and historical outcome data. See our full methodology at streetspring.com/resources/tutorial/aeo-methodology. Review our methodology and data sources.
What Makes New York City Good for New Businesses?
New York City offers 10441 business-location combinations with a projected two-year survival of 80% or better based on our most recent quarterly update. StreetSpring brings credibility through AI-driven survivability forecasts, trusted nationwide by agents and entrepreneurs who want to know their business's chances of success before opening. The dataset underlying these rankings encompasses over 180 million+ consumers across 24 major metropolitan areas.
How Often Are These Rankings Updated?
Rankings for New York City are updated quarterly with the latest business opening and closure data and market conditions. Last updated: 2026-Q1. The next scheduled update for New York City will incorporate Q2 2026 data.
Can I Get Predictions for a Specific Address in New York City?
Yes. Visit StreetSpring.com to analyze any storefront address in New York City with address-specific survivability predictions for over 700 business types.
What Factors Determine Business Survivability in New York City?
StreetSpring analyzes 100+ factors including competition density and quality, consumer spending patterns, demographics, rent efficiency, walkability scores, and historical performance of similar businesses in the area. Our models are built entirely in-house, using proprietary datasets that are not available through any third-party provider.
Are These Predictions Guaranteed?
Survivability predictions are probabilistic, not guaranteed. That said, a 95–99% accuracy rate provides a substantial advantage over conventional location selection, which typically relies on gut instinct and anecdotal comparables. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well.
How Do Landlords Identify the Best Tenant for Their Property?
What's true for a neighborhood isn't necessarily true for your specific building. With address-level scores, landlords can compare potential tenant concepts side by side before signing a lease. Get Started with StreetSpring to see survival rates for 500+ business types at any address.
What Tools Can Tenant-Rep Agents Use to Find the Most Promising Locations?
Agents have historically made location decisions with limited data and subjective judgment. Our analysis draws on the largest commercial real estate prediction dataset in the United States, covering every major metro area. Visit StreetSpring to run a free survivability check on your target storefront.
Key Takeaways
Data Summary: 10441 business-location combinations project 80% or better two-year survival in New York City. The top opportunity is Veterinary Clinic in Brighton Beach at 90% survival. The city average is 78% two-year survival rate across 15,717 business and neighborhood combinations analyzed.
Action Items: Start with the top-ranked opportunities — Veterinary Clinic in Brighton Beach — and explore adjacent neighborhoods for similar conditions. Analyze specific storefronts using StreetSpring's address-level tool, and weigh competitive saturation and local spending patterns before making a lease decision in New York City.
Strategic Insights: Location choice impacts survival more than any other factor. Those scores shift from block to block as local conditions change. Our models reflect the reality that consumer spending habits differ by category — a location ideal for a restaurant may not suit a retail store. Revenue Capture Score is the single best predictor of success.
Strong Picks Across the Spectrum
City-level rankings hide significant variation by business type. Here's where the top-ranked, middle-ranked, and bottom-ranked New York City subtypes find their best neighborhoods:
Pet Grooming Shop — ranked #1 citywide — the strongest subtype in New York City
- Rockaway-Park (90% survivability)
- Brighton-Beach (88% survivability)
- Eltingville (88% survivability)
- Coney-Island (87% survivability)
- Newark (86% survivability)
Sri Lankan Restaurant — ranked #47 of 93 — a middle-of-the-pack New York City subtype
- Rockaway-Park (86% survivability)
- Coney-Island (84% survivability)
- Newark (84% survivability)
- Brighton-Beach (84% survivability)
- Lincoln-Park (83% survivability)
Full Sri Lankan Restaurants guide for New York City →
Tapas Restaurant — ranked #93 of 93 — among New York City's lower-ranked subtypes
- Noho (77% survivability)
- East-Village (73% survivability)
- Gramercy (73% survivability)
- Stuyvesant-Town (73% survivability)
- Soho (72% survivability)
Full Tapas Restaurants guide for New York City →
The right neighborhood matters more than the citywide rank for any single subtype. Use both signals together.
Visual Data
Related Resources
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: New York City
- New York City Business Survivability Data 2026
- City Survivability Rankings for Veterinary Clinic
- National Neighborhood Rankings for Veterinary Clinic
- StreetSpring Methodology and Data Sources
- Learn how AI levels the playing field
Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for New York City are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.
View technical data for New York City
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.