Another increase in filings for bankruptcy

In the first six months of this year, the number of corporate bankruptcies increased by 7.4% compared with the previous year. Even though the number of new company start-ups increased by 2.1%, the net growth in the number of businesses has fallen by 1.8%.

CRIF AG has analysed how many new businesses were set up in the first six months of 2024, how many companies filed for bankruptcy and how many businesses had been completely deleted from the register.

Filings for bankruptcy
Across the whole of Switzerland, the level of bankruptcies rose by 7.4% from January to June. The highest percentage increases were recorded by the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Zug and Neuchâtel. On the other hand, there was a fall in the number of bankruptcies in some cantons, such as of Freiburg, Valais and Basel-Stadt.

The highest number of bankruptcies was reported by the construction industry (745), followed by the food and drink sector (450) and the retail trade (363). In percentage terms, there was a sharp increase in filings for bankruptcies in the motor vehicle trade (+23.8%), the management consultancy sector (+23.5%) and in real estate activities (+19.9%).

More new company start-ups, but a decline in growth
A total of 27,108 new businesses were set up throughout Switzerland. This represents an increase of 2.1% compared with the previous year. Over the same period, 16,570 companies were deleted from the commercial register, which represents an increase of 4.8% in deletions compared with the previous year. The net growth in the total number of companies thus declined slightly (-2.1%). Most of the new entries were in the cantons of Zurich (4,911), Vaud (2,806) and Bern (2,294). The Canton of Vaud reported the highest growth in the number of new company start-ups compared with the same period in the previous year, at 12.7%.

The sectors in which new businesses were most frequently established were the retail trade (2,507), the construction industry (2,080) and the management consultancy sector (2,037). The greatest increase in the number of new companies occurred in the area concerned with the provision of computer programming, consultancy and related activities, at 12.4%.

About the survey process
We have taken into consideration all those businesses that were newly entered into the commercial register in the period from 1st January 2024 to 30 June 2024 , together with all the businesses against whom bankruptcy proceedings were instigated.

New start-ups by Canton, 1st half-year