Computer Software Development
Entertainment and Games Software
http://www.firstresearch.com
Profiles cover key aspects of an industry's size, scope, and operations, recent news and developments,
industry trends, risks, and opportunities, and include a five-year industry forecast. Profiles are
updated quarterly and include:
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Software Business Practices Survey
http://www.pwcglobal.com Select "Industries - Technology
- Software"
Comparative view of key issues and activities impacting the software community. Executive summary
available free online.
Software & Information Industry Association
SIAA Resources
http://www.siia.net/estore/10browse.asp
Extensive library of publications and surveys covering management and market research aspects of the
software industry.
InfoTech Trends
http://www.infotechtrends.com/
InfoTech Trends provides market data on computers, peripherals, software, storage, the Internet, and
communications equipment. Details include forecast sales, forecast shipments, market share, installed
base, and industry trends.
Software Publishing
http://www.ibisworld.com
Reports provide in-depth industry analysis and a five-year industry forecast, with special focus on
the underlying structure and external forces and relationships that affect an industry and its performance.
Report sections include:
Plunkett Research, Ltd.
InfoTech, Computers & Software Industry
http://plunkettresearch.com/Industries/InfoTechComputersSoftware/
Business trends and statistics for the information technology, computer, and software sectors. Summary
data available free online.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Career Guide to Industries - Computer and Data Processing Services
http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/home.htm
Information provided includes a description of the nature of the work, number and types of jobs, education
and training, wages and earnings, employment outlook, and sources for additional information. All
information is free online.
Industry Market Research Reports
http://www.marketresearch.com
In-depth business market research reports include information on market size and market segmentation;
marketing strategy; product and market forecasts; business trends, risks, and opportunities; key participant
profiles; market share data; and more. Summary abstract and detailed table of contents for each market
research report is accessible free online.
Industry Market Analysis Reports
http://www.bizminer.com
Industry statistics include industry sales and sales trends, market size and market share by sales
class, average company sales and sales per employee, staffing and employment trends, business start
up activity and failure rates, and other business statistics on a national, state, and metropolitan
area level. Sample market analysis reports can be viewed free online.
More Industry Research and Analysis
For more business research and analysis available from Standard & Poor's, Freedonia, Euromonitor,
Dun & Bradstreet, and other sources—including key business statistics, market research and analysis,
and business trends and forecasts for a wide range of industries, see
Industry Overview, Issues, Trends, and Outlook.
Industry Financial Ratios
http://www.bizminer.com
Five-year comparative financial statement analysis includes income statements with expense detail,
balance sheets, cash flow statements, and key business and financial ratios. Reports are available
by sales size range, and also in small business, sole proprietor, and business start up versions.
Sample reports with detailed financial ratio analysis can be viewed free online.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Software Business Practices Survey
http://www.pwcglobal.com Select "Industries - Technology
- Software"
Comparative view of key issues and activities impacting the software community. Includes analysis
of operating expenses as a percentage of sales. Executive summary available free online.
Software & Information Industry Association
Financial Profile of Software Publishers
http://www.siia.net/estore/10browse.asp
Search for "financial"
The report illustrates the portion of revenues spent on the major types of expenses and compares results
from this year to last year and gives profiles of profitable publisher performance in the under $5
million, $5 - $50 million and more than $50 million revenue bands. Also included are financial performance
and personnel productivity ratios, as well as detailed percentages on marketing, technical support
and customer service expenses.
Softletter
Softletter Financial Handbook
http://softletter.com/Research.aspx
Publication includes financial, operational, and compensation benchmark studies and statistics for
software companies.
More Industry Financial Analysis
For more business financial information and analysis available from Integra Information, RMA Annual Financial Statement Studies, and other sources—including financial statements, financial ratios, and other key performance indicators and benchmarks for a wide range of industries, see Industry Financial Information and Financial Ratios.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Software Compensation Survey
http://www.pwcglobal.com Select "Industries - Technology
- Software"
Provides comprehensive information on base, bonus, and incentive compensation. The majority of the
responding companies are in the private sector will annual gross revenues below $10 million. Executive
summary available free online.
Software & Information Industry Association
Software Industry Salary Survey
http://www.siia.net/estore/10browse.asp
Search for "salary"
This annual survey profiles compensation information for more than 44 software industry positions
including senior management, sales and marketing, customer and technical support, product development
and programming. Data are cross-tabulated by company revenue, employment size and geographic area
including Canada.
Softletter
Information resources available from this organization include:
Compensation Surveys
http://softletter.com/Surveys.aspx
Compensation benchmark surveys for management and technical personnel in the software industry.
Softletter Financial Handbook
http://softletter.com/Research.aspx
Publication includes financial, operational, and compensation benchmark studies and statistics
for software companies.
ERI Economic Research Institute
Information Technology and Software Services Salary Survey
http://salary-surveys.erieri.com/
Survey provides compensation data for executive, management, and hourly personnel on a national and
state level by company size. Complete listing of job positions included in the survey and sample pages
for selected positions are accessible free online.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Career Guide to Industries - Computer and Data Processing Services
http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/home.htm
Information provided includes a description of the nature of the work, number and types of jobs, education
and training, wages and earnings, employment outlook, and sources for additional information. All
information is free online.
Officer Compensation ExpenseSee "
BizMiner Industry Financial Ratios" above for report including this data.
Five-year comparative financial analysis details officer compensation expense in both dollars and as a percentage of sales. Available by sales size range, and also in small business, sole proprietor, and business start up versions. Sample financial reports can be viewed free online.
More Compensation and Salary Data
For more compensation and salary survey data available from ERI Economic Research Institute, PayScale, Salary.com, and other sources—including average salary, salary range, incentive compensation, and employee benefits information for a wide range of jobs and industries, see Compensation and Salary Surveys.
The Handbook of Business Valuation
Chapter 28 - Valuing a Software Company
Thomas L. West and Jeffrey D. Jones, John Wiley & Sons, 1999
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471297879/wwwvaluationreso/
Includes rules of thumb and several chapters on specific industries, including software companies.
Search for chapter title using Amazon.com's "Search Inside" feature to preview chapter contents.
Software Equity Group, LLC
Software Industry Equity Report
http://www.softwareequity.com/research_reports.aspx
Annual and quarterly reports provide a comprehensive analysis of software industry mergers and acquisitions,
public software company financial performance, initial public offerings, and venture capital investments.
Selected reports and executive summaries are accessible online with free registration.
The Financial Valuation Group
Software Company Library
http://www.fvgi.com/ Select "Library - Software"
Articles dealing with valuation factors and methods applicable to software companies and related topics.
All articles are free online.
Small Business Valuation Formula Multiples
Software Companies
http://valuationresources.com/Misc/ValuationMultiples.htm
Report provides small business valuation formula multiples for software companies and more than 200
other industries. Valuation multiples are derived from market transactions as reported by BIZCOMPS®,
with the primary focus on small companies priced at less than $1 million.
BVMarketData
Private Company Sales Transactions Databases
Pratt's Stats® http://www.bvmarketdata.com/PSAdvSearch.asp
BIZCOMPS® http://www.bvmarketdata.com/BIZAdvSearch.asp
Free "Visitor Search" allows users to search thousands of private company sales transactions by SIC Code, NAICS Code, or business description for comparable business sale transaction data, including revenue, earnings, and EBITDA multiples. Data can be purchased as a single report or by subscription.
More Business Sale Transaction Data
For more business sale transaction data available from BizBuySell®, Done Deals, MergerStat, Public Stats™, and other sources for a wide range of industries, see Business Valuation Multiples and Merger & Acquisition Transaction Data.
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