Unternehmerperspektiven: new 2025 study, Germany as a business location – Time to make a difference!
How do German mid-market companies see the current business environment and opportunities?
Germany as a business location – Time to make a difference!, Crises and opportunities: what German mid-market companies need right now
After the crises of recent years, things aren’t getting any easier for mid-market companies in Germany – quite the opposite, in fact. Apart from all the global changes, the situation at home is a constant challenge for entrepreneurs. But where do they see the most significant obstacles? And how are they responding to these? And how are they actively preparing for the future? The 23rd Unternehmerperspektiven study explores these and many more questions regarding German mid-market companies and their views about doing business in Germany.
Key questions of the study:
- What are the most significant challenges for companies in Germany?
- How does Germany compare internationally?
- What do mid-market companies think needs to happen next?
- Can AI drive the German economy?
- What investments are the top priorities for entrepreneurs?
- What can the Bank do to assist them?
Special consultation on customs policy
The survey took place in the upheaval of the last federal government, from mid-November 2024 to mid-February 2025. The traffic lights had already failed at that time and Donald Trump had been elected US president.
Although feared in many cases, the impact of his trade policy interventions was not yet fully foreseeable. In April 2025, we therefore supplemented the study with a special survey that specifically addresses the effects of current US customs policy – and corresponding countermeasures.
- What are the consequences of the current US customs policy?
- What measures are taken by affected companies?
- What impact does customs policy have on the markets?
Mr Rhein, how can Germany remain attractive as a business location?
Why are mid-market companies so important in Germany?
SMEs – the German Mittelstand – are the backbone of Germany’s economy. They are a byword for stability, innovation and job security. Around 99 percent of all enterprises in Germany fall into the SME category. These businesses are deeply rooted in their regions, have a strong sense of local responsibility and, in many cases, have been run by families for generations. Especially in these uncertain times, a strong Mittelstand is instrumental in safeguarding social cohesion and preserves economic stability.
What sets German mid-market companies apart from their international peers?
The German Mittelstand is truly unique – not only in its structure but also in its attitude to business. SMEs in Germany take the long-term view. Rather than trying to maximise short-term profits, they focus on quality, innovation and on training their staff. Many of them are “hidden champions” – world leaders in their sector, often unknown to the general public yet indispensable for the German economy. This particular mix of down-to-earth attitude, technological expertise and entrepreneurial courage is not found anywhere else in the world.
What are the most important steps for improving the business environment for mid-market companies in Germany?
The state needs to get behind SMEs – instead of making their lives harder. Rampant red tape, high taxes and high energy costs have made things very difficult for our economy in recent years. We need a comeback plan for the German economy, with sweeping reductions in bureaucracy, tax relief for mid-market businesses and a competitive energy policy. Restoring Germany’s position as a world leader in growth and innovation is at the heart of my agenda.
Unternehmerperspektiven, The network of winning ideas - our initiative
Commerzbank’s Unternehmerperspektiven initiative has been reaching out to entrepreneurs in Germany for 19 years. As well as conducting insightful surveys on today’s major economic issues, the follow-up exchange and interaction in the network paves the way for solution-oriented thinking and individual support for SMEs.
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