Poland sees 9.2% drop in new business registrations in Q2 2026

New data from Statistics Poland (GUS) shows a decline in new business registrations in the second quarter of 2026. A total of 80,566 enterprises were registered, representing a 9.2 percent decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.

The decline affected all major economic sectors, with the most significant drops observed in industry, trade, and vehicle repair. Services, construction, and trade remained the primary areas for new registrations, though services saw a 6.2 percent decrease year-over-year.

While new registrations fell, bankruptcies remained relatively stable, with 94 recorded compared to 90 in the second quarter of 2025. This suggests a reduced inclination to start new businesses rather than a widespread wave of insolvencies.

In contrast to the general decline, there was growth in more formalized business structures. Registrations of limited liability companies (spółki z o.o.) increased by 9.2 percent. Additionally, the number of cooperatives nearly doubled, with 112 out of 129 new cooperatives being energy cooperatives focused on power generation.