Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB) is an annual series that provides national and subnational data on the distribution of economic data by establishment industry & enterprise size. SUSB covers most of the country's economic activity. The series excludes data on nonemployer businesses, private households, railroads, agricultural production, and most government entities.

Tabulations providing data by employment size of enterprise have been assembled as far back as 1989. These data were developed in cooperation with, and partially funded by, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Purpose

To provide detailed annual data for U.S. business establishments by geography, industry, and enterprise size. The United States Code, Titles 13 and 26, authorize this program.

Coverage

All U.S. business establishments with paid employees. The SUSB covers all NAICS industries except crop and animal production; rail transportation; Postal Service; pension, health, welfare, and vacation funds; trusts, estates, and agency accounts; office of notaries; private households; and public administration. The SUSB also excludes most government employees.

Content

Data are presented by geographic area, industry detail, and enterprise size. Annual data consist of number of firms, number of establishments, employment during the week of March 12, and annual payroll. In addition, receipts data are included for years ending in 2 and 7.

Dynamic data, which were historically created from the Business Information Tracking Series (BITS), consist of the number of establishments and corresponding employment change for births, deaths, expansions, and contractions. Subsequent to the release of 2015-2016 tabulations, the SUSB program has ceased production of all tabulations consisting of dynamic data. For historic tables, see SUSB Tables. For similar time series data spanning recent years, see the Business Dynamics Statistics.

Frequency

Tabulations providing data by employment size of enterprise have been assembled annually as far back as 1989.

Methods

A compilation of data extracted from the Business Register (BR). The BR contains the Census Bureau's most complete, current, and consistent data for U.S. business establishments. The BR is updated continuously and incorporates data from: the Census Bureau's economic censuses and current business surveys, quarterly and annual Federal tax records, and other departmental and federal statistics.

Products

SUSB data are available approximately 24 months after each reference year. Data are available for the U.S., each state, county, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and Congressional District.

Uses

The data are the standard reference source for small business statistics.

Private businesses use the data for market research, strategic business planning, and managing sales territories. State and local governments, as well as, budget, economic development, and planning offices use the data to assess business changes, develop fiscal policies, and plan future policies and programs.