The number of business startups in Germany increased by more than 20,000 in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching just over 171,000.
The Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer (DIHK) reports that an increasing number of people in Germany are starting businesses due to fears regarding their employment.
Share of individuals starting businesses primarily due to lack of other professional prospects in 2025.
DIHK President Peter Adrian stated that while there is rising interest in founding businesses, there is no widespread entrepreneurial awakening. He noted that nearly four out of ten individuals interested in starting a business do so primarily because they fear for their jobs due to the economic situation and sectoral transformation. Adrian suggested that founding a business is often an escape strategy rather than a firm desire to exploit new market opportunities.
Business planning and regulation
A growing proportion of business startup concepts show deficits, particularly in areas of commercial planning and financing, according to the DIHK report.
Entrepreneurs surveyed by the DIHK expressed a need for regulatory changes, with 73 percent desiring simpler regulations and 61 percent calling for a simpler tax system.
The DIHK report is based on an evaluation of the IHK startup service and the experiences of approximately 350 IHK business startup advisors. The report, which has been cited by various media outlets including the Rheinische Post, identifies the Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer (DIHK) as the source.
