Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation - Kauffman Firm Survey
The Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) is a panel study of 4,928 businesses founded in 2004 and tracked over their early years of operation. The survey focuses on the nature of new business formation activity; characteristics of the strategy, offerings, and employment patterns of new businesses; the nature of the financial and organizational arrangements of these businesses; and the characteristics of their founders.
The Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) is the largest longitudinal study of new businesses ever embarked upon. The panel of businesses was created by using a random sample from Dun & Bradstreet’s (D&B) database list of new businesses started in 2004, which totaled roughly two hundred fifty-thousand such businesses. The KFS oversampled these businesses based on the intensity of research and development employment in the businesses’ primary industries. The KFS sought to create a panel that included new businesses founded by a person or team of people, purchases of existing businesses by a new ownership team, and purchases of franchises. To this end, the KFS excluded D&B records for businesses that were wholly owned subsidiaries of existing businesses, businesses inherited from someone else, and not-for-profit organizations. Also, previous research on new businesses has reported variability in how business founders perceive when their businesses started operations.
Researchers wishing to access a more detailed data file than the public use file, and to engage with a community of researchers in analysis of the KFS, should consider applying for access to the NORC Data Enclave. The Enclave provides secure remote access to the KFS confidential microdata file, which contains more detail industry codes, geographical codes (zip code, metropolitan statistical area, and state), and many additional continuous variables (in addition to categorical variables). Data from the baseline (2004) through fourth follow-up (2008) surveys are available in the Enclave. The KFS confidential microdata may only be accessed through the NORC Data Enclave.
Researchers may apply for a Kauffman-sponsored seat through the Kauffman Foundation or apply directly to NORC for access at $100/week, six month minimum. To apply for a Kauffman-sponsored seat, please send a 3-5 page project proposal that outlines your research project and the need for the confidential data (as opposed to the public use version available for download on our website), as well as your CV to arobb@kauffman.org or Mulcahy-Tim@norc.org. Proposals are reviewed quarterly.
Enclave Manager
Shaswat Sapkota (sapkota-shaswat@norc.org)
Contact Producer
Alicia Robb (arobb@kauffman.org)