Business Formation Statistics (BFS) are a standard data product of the U.S. Census Bureau developed in research collaboration with economists affiliated with Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, University of Maryland, and University of Notre Dame. BFS provide timely and high frequency information on new business applications and formations in the United States. Data are available at the national, regional, state, and county level. Data are also available by 2-digit NAICS industry sector at the national level.

Monthly Data

Monthly BFS data cover the period starting from July 2004 at a monthly frequency. Monthly BFS data are released approximately 11-12 days after the end of the observed month. Monthly BFS data contains the Business Application Series: Business Applications (BA), High-Propensity Business Applications (HBA), Business Applications with Planned Wages (WBA), and Business Applications from a Corporation (CBA) and the Business Formation Series available in two subsets within 4 and 8 quarters: Business Formations (BF4Q/BF8Q), Projected Business Formations (PBF4Q/PBF8Q), Spliced Business Formations (SBF4Q/SBF8Q), Average Duration (in Quarters) from Business Application to Formation (DUR4Q/DUR8Q). All series, except DUR4Q and DUR8Q, are provided with and without seasonal adjustment.

Weekly Data

Weekly BFS data start from week 1 of 2006 at a weekly frequency. Weekly BFS are released approximately 5 days after week's end. Weekly BFS data contains the Business Application Series, Not Seasonally Adjusted. Business Formation series are not created on a weekly basis.

Annual County Data

Annual County BFS data start from 2005 at an annual frequency. Annual County BFS are released approximately 6 months after year's end. Annual County BFS data contains Business Application (BA) data by county.