Family business definition of the IfM Bonn
The IfM Bonn defines family businesses as those companies in which the ownership and management rights are united in the person of the entrepreneur or the entrepreneur's family. The terms "medium-sized business", "family business", "owner-operated business" and "family-run business" should therefore be regarded as synonyms.
Overall, the IfM Bonn classifies all companies as family-run businesses where
- up to two natural persons or members of their families hold at least 50% of the shares of a company and
- these natural persons belong to the management.
The overlap between family businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is naturally very large. At the same time, however, companies with more than 500 employees or an annual turnover of more than €50 million are also considered to be family businesses if they meet the above criteria.
Small and medium-sized enterprises which are dependent on another company, on the other hand, do not meet the definition.
Publications
The importance of owner- and family-run companies in Germany
Wolter, H.-J. unter Mitarbeit von Sauer, I. (2017): Die Bedeutung der eigentümer- und familiengeführten Unternehmen in Deutschland, IfM Bonn: IfM-Materialien Nr. 253, Bonn.
Economic significance of family and women's businesses
Haunschild, L.; Wolter, H.-J. (2010): Volkswirtschaftliche Bedeutung von Familien- und Frauenunternehmen, in: IfM Bonn (Hrsg.): IfM-Materialien Nr. 199, Bonn.
The economic importance of family businesses
Haunschild, L.; Wallau, F.; Hauser, H.-E.; Wolter, H.-J. (2007): Die volkswirtschaftliche Bedeutung der Familienunternehmen, Gutachten im Auftrag der Stiftung Familienunternehmen, in: Institut für Mittelstandsforschung Bonn (Hrsg.): IfM-Materialien Nr. 172, Bonn.
Die Bedeutung des Eigentümerunternehmens in Deutschland
Wolter, H.-J.; Hauser, H.-E. (2001): Die Bedeutung des Eigentümerunternehmens in Deutschland - Eine Auseinandersetzung mit der qualitativen und quantitativen Definition des Mittelstands, in: Institut für Mittelstandsforschung Bonn (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch zur Mittelstandsforschung 1/2001, Schriften zur Mittelstandsforschung Nr. 90 NF, Wiesbaden, S. 25-77.
Contact person
Project manager - Researcher Hans-Jürgen Wolter
- Telephone
- +49 228 7299735
- Get in contact