Gründungsschub in Deutschland: Selbstständigkeit als Antwort auf wirtschaftliche Herausforderungen

Increase in Business Startups

In a challenging economic environment characterized by rising prices and an ongoing economic crisis, remarkable trends are emerging in Germany’s startup landscape. According to a recent survey by KfW, the state development bank, the number of entrepreneurs in 2025 rose to around 690,000. This represents a significant increase of 18 percent compared to the 585,000 in the previous year.

Part-Time Self-Employment as a Growth Driver

A key factor for this upswing is the notable increase in part-time self-employed individuals, which grew to 483,000 compared to 382,000 in 2024. This brings the share of part-time startups to a record 70 percent. This development could be seen as an indicator of the adaptability of Germans to economic challenges, as many individuals view self-employment as a way to generate additional income.

Motivations Behind Starting a Business

The survey reveals that the main incentive for many individuals is to secure additional income through self-employment. KfW Chief Economist Dirk Schumacher emphasizes that the rising cost of living and increasing difficulties in accessing the job market are significant reasons for this trend. „Self-employment can provide a valuable alternative for supplementary income,“ explains Schumacher.

Broad Definition of Startups

For the study, which serves as a preliminary evaluation of the KfW Startup Monitor, 30,000 telephone interviews and 20,000 online interviews were conducted. The term ‚entrepreneur‘ is broadly defined and includes individuals who have become self-employed in full-time or part-time capacities, freelance or commercial, through new startups, participations, or takeovers.

Conviction as a Driving Force

The survey shows that the majority of entrepreneurs are self-employed out of conviction. Two-thirds of respondents prefer self-employment over a permanent position, indicating a growing entrepreneurial freedom and willingness to innovate. Nevertheless, small startups dominate, as only 24 percent of startups in 2025 had employees. Most of these businesses were newly founded, while only ten percent were created through takeovers.

Urgency for Young Companies

Schumacher emphasizes the need for Germany to have young, innovative companies to secure its economic competitiveness. At the same time, he warns of the challenge that by the end of 2029, about 545,000 medium-sized companies will be seeking successors. „It would be of immense importance for Germany’s economic landscape that more people become enthusiastic about taking over an existing business,“ he says. This fact should be taken seriously by investors, as a stable business environment is crucial for growth and shareholder value.