Founder fever in Schleswig-Holstein: record numbers and new opportunities!
Schleswig-Holstein will see an increase in business registrations in 2025 and remains a leader in the start-up sector. Important developments and current challenges.

Founder fever in Schleswig-Holstein: record numbers and new opportunities!
The start-up scene in Schleswig-Holstein is flourishing! How NDR reports, business registrations will have increased by an impressive 5% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Around 17,400 new registrations were registered in the first nine months. This shows that entrepreneurship is really popular in northern Germany.
The statistical breakdown is particularly interesting: North Frisia leads the list with the highest start-up rate per resident, with a total of 1,130 registrations. The largest increase was recorded in Steinburg and Stormarn, and in Kiel there was also a significant increase of around 9%. This development is a positive sign for the regional economy.
Support for founders in Schleswig-Holstein
However, many founders face challenges, especially when it comes to registration requirements. Loud IHK Schleswig-Holstein The distinction between business owners and freelancers is often confusing. It is essential to carefully check whether a business registration is necessary. The tax office decides on the allocation.
After registration, a series of further steps follows: The choice of legal form can have a significant influence on the process, and for certain types of company, a visit to a notary is necessary in order to be entered in the commercial register. In addition, questions of personal social security, such as health and nursing care insurance, are also important.
There is a wide range of support for founders in Schleswig-Holstein. The state promotes initiatives to motivate young people at schools and universities in order to establish a creative and productive start-up culture. A total of 17,586 new individual companies were founded in 2024, with almost 40 percent of the new businesses being founded by women, as the state government informs on its website.
What's new in the start-up landscape
A special project that will cause a stir in the coming week is the establishment of a cooperative to reopen the last bakery on Helgoland. The shares are available from just 150 euros and are also open to tourists. The official founding will take place on December 7th and is seen as a great opportunity to revitalize a gastronomic highlight in the region.
The positive development in the start-up sector also shows that not only is the entrepreneurial spirit advancing, but that job fear also motivates many people to go their own way. At the same time, Schleswig-Holstein takes 5th place in the nationwide start-up ranking, which underlines the attractiveness of this region for new ideas and concepts.
With the increasing number of start-ups and initiatives, Schleswig-Holstein could develop into a real center for startups. The dynamism in the start-up landscape is noticeable and it will be exciting to see how this development continues to unfold.