Entrepreneurship Monitor 2026 (KfW)

Summary

• Entrepreneurial intensity in Germany rose in 2025 from 115 to 136 business starters per 10,000 people aged 18 to 64 years, representing around 690,000 business starts compared to 585,000 in the previous year.p.3
• Part-time business starts drove the growth, rising to 483,000 compared to 206,000 full-time starts, taking an unprecedented 70% share of total entrepreneurial activity.p.3
• Business starters worked an average of 24 hours per week, with full-time entrepreneurs averaging 45 hours and part-time entrepreneurs averaging 16 hours.p.3
• The proportion of population members with active plans to start a business reached 5.1% in 2025, indicating steady or slightly growing activity for 2026.p.3

Key insights

1. Full-time entrepreneurial intensity remained unchanged for the third consecutive year at 41 per 10,000 people of working age.p.4
2. Generating higher or additional income was the main motive for 40% of part-time entrepreneurs in 2025, up from 32% in 2024.p.4
3. The proportion of business starters holding an academic degree reached 34% in 2025, continuing an upward trend from 26% in 2007.p.6
4. Self-employment preference was highest among adults aged 18-29, with 36% preferring self-employment over salaried work.p.7
5. Business services dominated sector shares at 37%, while personal services accounted for 25% and trade represented 18%.p.8
6. People with a migration history accounted for 34% of business starters in 2025, exceeding their 28% representation in the general working-age population.p.10
7. Capital requirements varied widely, as 38% of founders needed up to EUR 1,000 while 56% of full-time founders utilized over EUR 10,000.p.15