63,000 new businesses were established in 2024

A good year was in 2024 for business, as according to the data of the General Commercial Register ( ) and the Central Association of Chambers of Greece (KEEE), published today (3.1.2025) this year a total of 63,000 new companies were opened. More detailed, according to the data of GEMIS, compared to last year, an increase of 11% is recorded, as 58,200 companies were established in 2023. This is an increase that comes to confirm the fact that the Greek economy has entered a recovery phase and that entrepreneurs do not hesitate to test themselves in the new market data, leaving aside the hesitation that existed in the first time after Greece left the memoranda and the over-ten years crisis. CORVERSE The fact that 2024 is the culmination of the business of a steady course over the last five years proves it by the cold language of numbers. In particular: In 2020 42,000 new business starts were recorded while in 2021 new startups increased to 46,400. In 2022 they touched 51,300. In 2023 they reached 58,200. And for 2024, we had, as mentioned above, 63,000 new businesses, namely an increase of 50% over 2020. This performance constitutes a historical record, with business activity returning to pre-economic recession levels, when thousands of businesses were forced to shut down their operation by putting a “loquet”. CORVERSE The proportion of new businesses is impressive compared to those that close. In 2024, about 22,200 businesses closed, scoring a 11% decrease from 2023, when the operating holidays had then reached 25,000. Based on the data, for each business closed, three new ones open, revealing the dynamic development of the business environment. Companies that close are mainly in categories such as individual and seasonal activities, while several cases concern entrepreneurs who transform their old companies into new structures or who retire. The qualitative analysis of data reveals in detail the sectors that are leading to the new beginnings. These are the following: Retail and Wholesale Trade: With 11,609 new businesses, the food sales industry (sales, mini markets, supermarkets) dominates, confirming stable demand for everyday consumption products. It is small family labour-intensive businesses that dominate the area. Focus and Tourism: The second most dynamic branch, with 9,433 new businesses, includes mainly cafes, restaurants and tourist accommodation. This flourishing reflects the importance of tourism as the country’s heavy industry. Technical and Scientific Professions: With 6,754 new businesses, increased interest is observed in professions such as plumbers, electricians and engineers, which establish individual enterprises to better manage income and insurance. Processing: Although stable in relation to 2023, the processing sector recorded some 2,500 new entries, reflecting the government’s shift towards strengthening industry. In analysing the legal form of the new companies, it follows that: 37% are individual enterprises (23,368), with the lion’s portion belonging to small and very small structures. The Heterorrhythmic Companies reach 14,565, taking second place this year. Private Capital Companies (ICUs) retreat to third place with 13.614. Important is the presence of Anonymous Companies (AEs), which number 1,655 and are characterised by a large scale of activity and high employment. The distribution of new businesses per month demonstrates a strong activity at the beginning of the year that will close its cycle in a few hours. In particular: January and February: 7,388 and 7,495 new entries were recorded, respectively, with February being a month-record. March to June: Fixed flow, with May and June marking smaller beginnings due to seasonality. Summer and fall: July and August showed a fall, but since September records recovered. December: 2,871 new businesses have already been registered, with a daily average of 173 starts.