Switzerland/ Record number of companies created in Switzerland last year

Switzerland reached a record 52,978 business start-ups in 2024 (+2.6%), with a sharp rise in French-speaking Switzerland (+6.4%). The main sectors concerned are crafts, real estate and cryptocurrencies.

Switzerland recorded an unprecedented level of business start-ups last year, mainly in the crafts, consulting and real estate sectors. The cantons of Fribourg, Vaud and Valais were particularly active in this field.

The number of start-ups rose in 2024 to break the previous year's record. The Swiss Commercial Register registered 52,978 new entities, up 2.6%, reported the online platform STARTUPS.CH and the IFJ Institute for Start-ups.

It's above all the resurgence of the cryptocurrency market that has given start-ups a boost. In terms of the region as a whole, French-speaking Switzerland remains on the path of growth, while the canton of Zurich has seen solid development, as usual. The sector should continue to develop positively in 2025.

Stimulating interest rates

Moderate interest rates have also given a boost to young entrepreneurs. "Demand in the crafts, real estate and construction sectors is high, and craftspeople are taking advantage of this to start out on their own," notes Michele Blasucci, founder and director of STARTUPS.CH, quoted in the press release.

In the craft and trade sectors, the number of new registrations rose by almost a fifth, as did the real estate sector. As in previous years, the majority of new businesses were set up in the consumer goods and trade and IT sectors, with shares of 11% and 9% respectively.

Fribourg ahead

In detail, growth is evident in almost all regions. In French-speaking Switzerland, in particular, the number of start-ups rose by 6.4%, while the canton of Zurich, which is economically strong and broadly diversified in terms of sectors, posted a solid increase of around 1.2%.

Further afield, with increases of 11.5% and 10.7% respectively, the cantons of Fribourg and Valais are among the champions of business start-ups, followed by Zug (+6%), Vaud (+5.5%) and St. Gallen (+5.1%). By contrast, Thurgau (-7.6%), Basel-City (-4.9%) and Lucerne (-3%) recorded a contraction.

If the number of new registrations stagnated in north-western Switzerland, "this is due in particular to the strength of the Swiss franc and the contraction of the German economy, with which north-western Switzerland, in particular, is closely linked commercially", the organizations note.

Source: www.lenouvelliste.ch/