The Characteristics of Business Owners Data Base

The Characteristics of Business Owners (CBO) data base was created in 1987 by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. It was based upon a 1986 survey of 125,000 self-employed persons; it includes five self-contained samples of 25,000 each: 1) Hispanics, 2) blacks, 3) all other minorities, 4) females, and 5) nonminority males. Two versions of the CBO data files focus, respectively, upon 1) self-employed persons, and 2) small firms. For each observation, data were collected upon owner human capital, demographic traits, and financial capital investment in one's firm. Firm specific data are extensive, including sales, profits, employment, payroll, etc.