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New Publication Alert: Big Challenges for Small Firms
We’re pleased to share the release of a new Small Firm Diaries issue brief, “Big Challenges for Small Firms,” by Laura Freschi, Timothy Ogden, and Jonathan Morduch.
Laura Freschi
Nov 28, 2025
Why Does SFD USA Focus on Small Firms with 1-20 Workers?
In our previous blog, we explained that the most common definition of a “small business” in the United States, especially at the national level, is those with less than 500 workers. Despite this, Small Firm Diaries USA focuses on businesses that we call “small firms” that have between 1 and 20 paid workers. So, why did we choose this? And why does this group warrant special attention?
Meghan Greene and Tracy Cole
Nov 20, 2025
Why Different Datasets Tell Different Stories: What This Means for Understanding Small Firms in the U.S.
The landscape for small firm data in the US Commensurate with their importance in the US economy, there are many data sources at the national, state, and local levels examining small firms. Whether you’re looking for data on jobs, new business creation, or startup survival, there are a number of places you can find information.* While more data is generally a good thing, it can be overwhelming to try to navigate the myriad datasets and statistics and make sense of the differ
Tracy Cole
Oct 27, 2025
Get to Know the Firms: A First Snapshot of Firm and Owner Characteristics
Since our launch of SFD USA in May 2025, we’ve recruited more than 80 firms into the study across our six research sites —Oakland, Chicago, St. Louis, New York City, Atlanta, Baltimore—as well as some rural areas. As we shift our focus from recruitment to data collection and analysis, we’re excited to share a snapshot of the small firms that make up our sample.
Tracy Cole
Oct 7, 2025
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