(24.09.2025) A record number of Swiss companies had to cease operations due to insolvency. In August 2025, the number of liquidation proceedings surged by nearly 54% to 1,209 cases, according to figures published by the creditors’ association Creditreform.
Nearly 9,000 companies filed for bankruptcy in the first eight months of the year, representing a 22% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This sharp rise is partly due to a legal amendment that came into force in January 2025: public law institutions can now also pursue companies for unpaid debts. Until then, many struggling firms continued to operate despite arrears, particularly towards social security funds.
Creditreform forecasts around 15,000 bankruptcies for the full year, representing an increase of more than 30% compared with 2024. Regional differences are notable: the cantons of Valais (+65%) and St. Gallen (+59%) were particularly affected, while Glarus (-30%), Uri (-20%), Basel-Landschaft (-10%), and Ticino (-2%) recorded declines in insolvency proceedings.
Entrepreneurial momentum nonetheless remains strong. From January to August, 36,650 new companies were entered into the commercial register (+4.1%). In August alone, 3,853 companies were registered (+8.3%), pointing towards a potential record of more than 55,000 start-ups by the end of 2025.
Company deregistrations also rose. In the first eight months of the year, their number increased by 4.3% to 22,802 compared with the same period in 2024. The balance, however, remains positive: Creditreform expects net growth of around 21,700 companies in 2025.
Last modification 24.09.2025
