Every third medium-sized company in Germany is now at least 60 years old. For many, it takes time to find a suitable successor.
Business successions within the family are very popular with the majority of old owners. Less popular are selling the company to external parties (43 percent) or succession by company employees (28 percent) and a co-owner (21 percent). Multiple entries were possible. Some owners also decide to close the business. According to the survey, 97,000 medium-size companies (around three percent) have such plans by the end of 2024.