The Annual Business Survey uses the collection year in the survey name rather than a single reference year. This is to better reflect the collection cycle of the survey. Therefore, the 2018 ABS covers reference year 2017.

Multiple owner characteristics are included in the Characteristics of Business Owners table. Below are the links to the data table by owner characteristics topic with Question Description codes for the topics in parenthesis.

For more information on using the Census Bureau’s data platform, visit the data.census.gov resources page.

How Initially Acquired Business (ACQBUS)

Year Acquired Ownership of Business (YRACQBUS)

Primary Function(s) in Business (PFNCT)

Average Hours Per Week Spent Working (HRSWRKD)

Primary Source of Income (PRIMINC)

Number of Businesses Owned Previously (NUMPRIORBUS)

Highest Level of Education Completed (EDUC)

Field of Highest Degree (FLDEDUC)

Age of the Owner (OWNRAGE)

Reasons for Owning the Business (REASONOWN)

Owner Born in the United States (USBORN)

Owner Citizen of the United States (USCITIZEN)

Service-Disabled (DISVETRN)

Other Veteran Characteristics (VETSPECIFIC)

Current Status of Prior Businesses Owned (PRIORBUSTAT)