Incorporations in Switzerland 2024
Tue, 31.12.2024, 10:00
The daily incorporation figures for 2024 are in - and they set a new record. Never before have so many companies been founded in Switzerland as this year. According to the latest study by the IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen, ”National Analysis of Swiss company Formations 2024", 52'978 new companies have been registered. This surpasses the record year of 2023, which already saw a high of 51'673 startups. This further increase of 2.6% underlines the continued growth and attractiveness of Switzerland as a business location.
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A new record was set in Switzerland with 52'978 new companies founded. This represents growth of 2.6% compared to the previous record year of 2023. Simon May, IFJ Co-managing Director, explains: The continued growth in business startups reflects the desire of many people for professional fulfilment and independence. In particular, the growth of part-time self-employment offers many founders the opportunity to take a low-risk step into self-employment. Switzerland also offers various government and private support programmes to help founders on their way to becoming self-employed.
Positive impact on the Swiss economy
As well as being an indicator of the entrepreneurial spirit in Switzerland, the growing number of new companies has far-reaching consequences for the economy. They create new jobs, stimulate competition and drive innovation. According to the European Innovation Scoreboard 2024, Switzerland remains the undisputed innovation leader in Europe.
The increasing dynamism of the start-up scene strengthens the foundations of the Swiss economy and shows that Switzerland remains a highly competitive location. A strong start-up engine is a key factor for a resilient and innovative economy," stresses May.
The incorporation statistic in detail
It is also exciting to note that in both record years, significantly more companies were incorporated at the beginning and end of the year. And that the two record years were evenly matched in terms of the number of start-ups per quarter.
A closer look at the figures for 2024 will further illustrate the attractiveness and potential of Switzerland as a start-up location. The IFJ's latest national analysis shows how business start-ups in Switzerland have changed in 2024 compared to the previous year.
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG Period: 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 compared to the same period of the previous year)
Positive start-up sentiment prevails in the main regions
In 2024, Southwest Switzerland (+6.3%) is the main region with the strongest growth in the number of startups. Espace Mittelland (+3.4%) and Ticino (+3.0%) also recorded significant growth compared with the same period last year. Moderate growth was recorded in Central Switzerland (+2.0%), Zurich (+1.2%) and Eastern Switzerland (+1.1%). Northwestern Switzerland was the only region to record a decline (-1.0%).
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG
Period: 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 compared to the same period of the previous year)
Cantons with a high number of incorporations
In 19 cantons, the number of newly born enterprises increased in 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year. These are currently the cantons with the highest growth in Swiss enterprise births:
Appenzell Innerrhoden (+25.0%), Uri (+13.1%), Appenzell Ausserrhoden (+12.8%), Fribourg (+11.5%), Valais (+10.7%), Zug (+6.0%), Vaud (+5.5%), St. Gallen (+5.1%), Geneva (+4. 7%), Obwalden (+4.1%), Glarus (+3.2%), Ticino (+3.0%), Bern (+2.6%), Nidwalden (+1.3%), Zurich (+1.2%), Jura (+1.1%), Schwyz (+0.6%), Aargau (+0.5%) and Neuchâtel (+0.1%).
Fewer companies are currently being created in these cantons.
The cantons with a slight percentage decrease were Basel-Stadt (-0.8%), Graubünden (-0.8%), Solothurn (-1.9%), Lucerne (-3.0%), Schaffhausen (-4.1%), Basel-Landschaft (-4.9%) and Thurgau (-7.6%).
Comparison of legal forms
In Switzerland, sole proprietorships are the fastest-growing legal form in 2024, with growth of +3.4% compared to the same period last year. The public limited company (Ltd.) follows with solid growth of +2.7%, while the limited liability company (LLC) grew by +1.5% and remains the most popular legal form for startups.
A decline of -1.2% was recorded for the equally relevant legal form of general partnership.
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG Period: 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 compared to the same period of the previous year)
Comparing the last 10 years
The new record for company incorporations in 2024 shows a very positive trend. On average over the last 10 years, 46'552 new companies were registered in the Swiss Commercial Register each year. With 52'978 new companies, 2024 records the highest level and, at +13.8%, is well above the average of previous years.
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG Period: 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 compared to the same period of the previous year)
Most start-ups in these sectors
The top three sectors this year are craft (5'555 startups), consultancy (5'256 startups) and real estate (4'883 startups). They are closely followed by retail trade (4'585 startups) and B2B & B2C services (4'379 startups).
However, it is interesting to note that the Swiss start-up landscape is very diverse across the 21 sectors categorised in our study. The most successful sector, Craft, with 5555 new registrations, accounts for only 10.4% of the total number of startups, illustrating the diversity of the start-up landscape.
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC, Dun & Bradstreet Schweiz AG; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG Period: 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 compared to the same period of the previous year)
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Swiss founders break the record again
The latest figures for 2024 confirm this: Switzerland remains a top location for young companies and start-ups. The strength of the Swiss economy and its innovative power are demonstrated by a new national record for company start-ups. Despite the global uncertainties, the number of start-ups increased significantly and even surpassed the previous record year of 2023.
Simon May, IFJ Co-Managing Director, explains: This new record number of start-ups illustrates the entrepreneurial spirit in Switzerland and the high willingness to realise one's own dreams and take entrepreneurial risks in a relatively stable national environment. The importance of start-ups for a well-functioning economy is also illustrated by the latest figures from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Every year, 8% of all Swiss companies are newly founded, and more than one in ten employees works for a company that is less than 10 years old. The growing number of start-ups makes a significant contribution to job creation and Switzerland's economic resilience. With a stable political system, first-class infrastructure and targeted support programmes, Switzerland can look back on another successful year.
Although the funding volume for technology-based start-ups is still below the record levels of 2021 and 2022, there are several positive signs. These include rising investment in the biotech and medtech sectors, an increasing number of funding initiatives and the fact that Horizon Europe will be open to Swiss investment again from January 2025. This underlines Switzerland's leading position in the global innovation environment.
The outlook for 2025 is promising: digital transformation with artificial intelligence and a strong entrepreneurial spirit continue to revitalise the Swiss economy.
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