Illustrating outcomes for Australian nascent and young firm entrepreneurial activity

This paper examines the outcomes of nascent and young entrepreneurial firms in Australia. Findings of interest in this paper include: • After three years similar proportions of nascent firms reach an operational state (31 per cent), i.e. sales regularly exceed costs, compared with those that have terminated (35 per cent), and those who are still trying to achieve venture creation (34 per cent). This outcome closely mirrors the outcomes in the US PSED study. • The young firm sample shows that these new ventures remain more robust to firm closure. The vast majority of young firms (78 per cent) continue to be active in the market the last time they participated in CAUSEE. • The annual termination rate for young firms is 9 per cent at most, and 14 per cent cumulatively, while cumulatively only 8 per cent of young firms experience a drop-off in activity to be considered as having uncertain status. • The average number of employees in Nascent Firms is one person, the average number of Young Firm employees increases from two at first sampling to three after three years. • While the founders of exiting Nascent Firms are more likely to return to their old job upon termination of their business, Young Firm founders move on to new jobs. Regardless the majority of exiting firm founders rate their experience as positive and are prepared to attempt business creation in the future.