Incorporations in Switzerland Q1-Q3 2022
Fri, 30.09.2022, 15:00
A pending energy crisis, insecurities in the area of security policy, and ongoing global corona measures: Not the ideal conditions for starting your own company. Nevertheless, starting a business is still a trend. This is shown by the IFJ study "National Analysis of Swiss Company Incorporations Q1 to Q3 2022". 37,092 new companies were entered in the Swiss Commercial Register in the first nine months of the current year. This marks a slight decrease of -1.6% compared to the same period last year (Q1 to Q3 2021), which went down in history as a record with 37,693 new company incorporations.
Significant differences between the major regions - Zurich is still a driving force
Zurich (+3.0%) and Ticino (+0.8%) are the only major regions with growth in Q1 to Q3 2022. The other major regions of Southwestern Switzerland (-0.7%) and Eastern Switzerland (-1.6%) show only slight declines compared to the same period last year. The decline in the number of new startups is somewhat higher in Central Switzerland (-3.9%), Espace Mittelland (-4.3%) and Northwestern Switzerland (-4.3%).
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG)
Which regions are recording positive values?
Compared to the record high period of the previous year, the number of new startups in the first nine months of 2022 increased even more in 11 cantons. Currently, the cantons with the highest growth in the number of new companies in Switzerland are: Appenzell Innerrhoden (+24.4%), Jura (+9.5%), Glarus (+4.0%), Solothurn (+3.9%), Zurich (+3.0%), Obwalden (+2.5%), Fribourg (+2.4%), Vaud (+1.3%), Ticino (+0.8%), Valais (+0.6%) and St. Gallen (+0.5%).
Less companies have been founded in these cantons
Only slight decreases were recorded in Zug (-1.6%), Schaffhausen (-1.9%), Aargau (-3.2%), Geneva (-3.9%), Lucerne (-4.2%), Neuchâtel (-4.6%), Grisons (-4.6%) and Thurgau (-4.9%). The largest percentage decreases in company incorporations were registered in the commercial registry offices of the cantons of Bern (-10.0%), Uri (-9.0%), Schwyz (-8.3%), Nidwalden (-7.3%), Basel-Stadt (-6.4%), Aargau (-5.3%) and Basel-Land (-5.0%).
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG)
Legal forms in comparison
In Switzerland, the limited liability company (GmbH) is by far the most popular legal form when it comes to founding a new company. A total of 14,721 (+1.8%) new LLCs (GmbH) were registered in Q1 to Q3 2022. Relatively high is the decline of -11.8% in newly formed general partnerships, one of the less popular legal forms with 983 new registrations.
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG)
Development Q1 to Q3 of the last 5 years
Since the last five years, the first three quarters per year show a steady increase in the number of new companies. Over the last five years, an average of 34,191 new companies were registered in the first three quarters per year. With 37,092 new companies, Q1 to Q3 2022 recorded the second highest level and is with +8.5% significantly higher than the average of the first three quarters in the last five years.
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC; analysis and graph: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG)
Startups by industry
In the current year, the top growth sectors include Hightech (+21.9%), Public Health (+12.3%) and Transport & Logistics (+10.9%). The highest percentage declines are in Agriculture & Forestry (-16.7%), Wholesale Trade (-13.4%) and Retail Trade (-11.6%). The analysis shows that the trade sector is struggling. In addition to the two startup-intensive sectors of Public Health and IT & ICT, smaller sectors in particular are recording very positive accents.
(Source: Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce SOGC, Dun & Bradstreet Schweiz AG; Analysis: IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen AG)
Switzerland offers the best conditions for sustainable entrepreneurship
The looming energy crisis and the geopolitical and economic uncertainties are hitting the Swiss population quite hard, too. Nevertheless, Swiss entrepreneurs are courageous and optimistic. Swiss company founders give a clear answer to the question "Why should you found a company?" They see their own company as an opportunity to gain more freedom.
This figure in particular shows how important it is for self-employed people to have an ideal balance between courage and sense: at the time of founding, 66% of founders are still employed in another company. This figure drops to around 40% after founding the company. The idea of stability can thus be ideally combined with the desire for more freedom.
In the current year, the positive long-term trend in the number of new companies founded has stabilized at a high level. Economic adjustments are still taking place in some sectors. In addition, many companies are under pressure as a result of the energy crisis and their existence is threatened. Nevertheless, people are looking for meaningful employment more than ever. Furthermore, as in all difficult times, many innovations and improvements are being developed out of the ongoing situation.
We would be happy to provide media representatives and interested parties with specifically prepared analyses on regions, cantons or sectors. Please contact us.
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