Foreign entrepreneurs now drive over a third of Switzerland's start-up boom
Switzerland is seeing a steady rise in new businesses founded by foreigners. Between January and September 2024, over a third of all start-ups were launched by people without Swiss passports. This trend reflects a growing role for foreign entrepreneurs in the country’s economy. In the first nine months of 2024, Switzerland recorded 40,867 new entries in its commercial register. Of these, 37.5% were set up by non-Swiss nationals. This marks a continued increase from 2020, when the figure stood at 35.8%.
The number of start-ups overall grew by 4.3% compared to the same period last year. On average, 150 new companies were created each day, reaching a record high. The craft sector led with 4,435 new businesses, followed by consulting (4,310) and real estate (3,800).
Regional differences were noticeable. Central Switzerland experienced the strongest growth, with an 11.4% rise in new start-ups. The Zurich region saw a 5.9% increase, while southwestern Switzerland grew by 4.4%. However, eastern Switzerland recorded a slight decline of 1.0%.
By 2025, projections suggest that more than one in three new companies in Switzerland will have been founded by foreigners. This shift comes as over a quarter of the country’s permanent residents now hold foreign citizenship. The data highlights a clear trend: foreign entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly significant part in Switzerland’s business landscape. With new start-ups reaching record levels and regional variations in growth, the country’s economy continues to diversify. The share of non-Swiss founders has risen steadily since 2020, shaping the future of Swiss commerce.
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