Although still severe other studies suggest that Professor Angelo's numbers might have been too pessimistic.
A sampling of such investigations places the U.S restaurant failure rate during the first year at 24 to 26 percent and 50 to 60 percent by the end of three years.
Further whether the establishment was independently operated or franchise seemed to make little difference as to the likelihood of bankruptcy.
Finally Mexican-style ventures along with sandwhich shops and bakeries seemed to be most prone to insolvency as these types showed a three-year failure rate of 75 to 90 percent whereas seafood and Burger establishment were only in the 30 to 35 percent range over a comparable period.
Whoever is right about the prevailing rates of restaurant failure long-term success in this business appears to be problemagic at best