Between January and June 2025, a total of 45,959 people registered a trade license in Czechia.

The number of registered entrepreneurs (professionals and small business owners) in the country reached 2,007,596, the highest since 2022. The figures were released by Dun & Bradstreet, a firm that tracks business activity across Europe.

Foreign nationals continue to drive part of this growth. According to the data, Ukrainian citizens made up 14% of new registrations, while Slovaks accounted for 3%.

“In 2023, 80,787 people started businesses. That figure rose to 91,494 in 2024 — the highest in over a decade. This year’s numbers show that interest in entrepreneurship remains high,” said Kateřina Klosová, Chair of the Board at Dun & Bradstreet Czech Republic.

Klosová noted that the increase in self-employed activity is economically positive, especially in sectors where demand is tied to local services. Many new trades respond directly to gaps in specific areas, helping improve both access and quality.

The largest share of new entrepreneurs — more than a third — registered under the general category of “Production, trade, and services not listed in Annexes 1–3 of the Trade Licensing Act.” These are typically low-barrier fields such as IT freelancing, personal services, or consulting.

Other leading sectors included:

• Construction site preparation – 3,291
• Wholesale and retail trade; auto repair – 2,728
• Road freight transport – 2,256
• Retail in non-specialized stores – 1,954
• Advertising services – 1,468
• Private education – 1,462
• Property rental and management – 1,277
• Cleaning services – 1,087

From a geographic perspective, Prague remains the most active region, accounting for 22.5% of new licenses. It was followed by:

• Central Bohemia – 13%
• South Moravia – 11%
• Moravian-Silesian Region – 9.6%

These four regions together represent over half of all new trade license registrations in the country.

Two Million Registered, But Not All Active

Although more than two million individuals now hold trade licenses, Dun & Bradstreet estimates that only around 1.2 million are actively running businesses — approximately 60% of the total.

“The rest are considered dormant,” said Klosová. “These are people who obtained a license but are not currently engaged in any business activity.”

Still, the share of active sole traders has been growing in recent years. Many are drawn by the flexibility of self-employment or by opportunities in areas where traditional employment is limited.

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