FINANCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE SURVEY
This survey is a part of a research study designed to identify and define financial indicators of impending bankruptcy declarations by small business enterprises. Participation in this survey is not an indication of impending bankruptcy, as data are being collected from both going concerns and firms that failed financially. The objective of the study is to identify, relevant to bankruptcy, differences between firms that succeed and those that fail.
The confidentiality of all information collected through the administration of this survey will be assured. No records will be maintained that will permit relationships to be made between specific firms and any financial data. Further, no coding will be incorporated into the questionnaires that would permit such records to be created.
In many instances, the data collected through the administration of the questionnaire will not be used in the form in which it is collected. Rather, financial ratios and other measures of financial performance will be derived from such data. Therefore, respondents are asked to complete all items on the questionnaire whether or not they may appear to the respondent to be an indicator of potential bankruptcy.
In some instances, questionnaire items seek numerical data related to financial characteristics and performance. Response alternatives in such instances are expressed as a range of dollar values. In other instances, questionnaire items seek respondent assessments of the significance of financial characteristics and performance. Response alternatives in these latter instances are expressed in evaluative terms highly significant, somewhat significant, and insignificant.
My firm ( ) has not filed for bankruptcy.
My firm ( ) is an operating enterprise.
My firm has been or was in business for
( ) more than one year but less than three years.
( ) more than three years but ...