Ed Stetzer has released the second part of this study.  (Read the previous post on Church Planting and Survivability.)  In the study, expectations were the largest determining factor to survivability. 

Expectations might not seem like they would make such a profound difference in the survivability rate, but they had the biggest impact (400%). When realistic expectations are combined with a plan to develop leaders, benefit from others, and develop stewards, the difference is remarkable.

Other factors considered were:

Leadership Development - "If the church planter provides leadership development training for new church members, the odds of survivability increase by over 250 percent."

Church Planter Peer Group - "The church planter who meets with a group of church planting peers at least monthly increases the odds of survivability by 135 percent. We found that out of those church planters who were part of a peer group, 83 percent of their churches survived whereas only 67 percent of church plants among those who did not have a peer group survived."

Stewardship Plans - "Church plants that have a proactive stewardship development plan enable the church to become financially self-sufficient. They also increase the odds of survivability by over 178 percent. Of those church plants who have a stewardship development plan, 81 percent of churches survived whereas only 68 percent of church plants survived among those who did not have a stewardship plan."

Read the full article:  How Many Church Plants Really Survive—and Why? (Next, in part 3, Factors for Higher Attendance)