The ZEW regularly prepares the study "The Economic Impact of Family Firms in Germany" for Stiftung Familienunternehmen in cooperation with ifm Mannheim. For this purpose, data from the ZEW's Mannheim Enterprise Panel (MUP) are used, which allows an analysis of ownership structures for the private sector in Germany. The results of these studies show that around 90 percent of German companies are family-controlled. Slightly more than 85 percent can be classified as owner-managed family businesses. The aim of this new study is to examine the business landscape in other European countries and determine the proportions of family businesses for a European comparison. The data basis for such an analysis is to be Bureau van Dijk's Orbis business database.