2025 Company Incorporation and Closing Statistics for March (with Legal Analysis)

Publication Date: April 18, 2025 | Source: Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB)

The company statistics of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey for March 2025 provide important data reflecting the commercial activity and investment trends in our country. As MFY Legal, we evaluate this data not only from an economic but also a legal perspective.

Legal Assessment

March 2025 statistics point to significant changes in company incorporations and liquidations. These changes should be taken into account in terms of commercial law, partnership structures, bankruptcy-insolvency law and foreign investor legislation.

• 📌 The increase in the number of companies in liquidation (12.3%) has direct legal consequences in terms of termination of commercial contracts, severance/notice rights of employees, tax liabilities and asset transfers.
• 📌 The number of foreign-owned companies is 462, indicating that confidence in Turkey’s foreign investment legislation continues, but that the risks of collusive ownership structures or inadequate supervision need to be taken into account in practice.
• 📌 The increase in sole proprietorships increases the need for legal protection of individual enterprises; the lack of legal advice for sole proprietorships is still a major problem.

General Data – March 2025

Capital and Shareholding Structure

Total capital of companies established in March 2025 decreased by 41.5% compared to the previous month.

Companies with Foreign Shareholders – March 2025

Sectoral Breakdown

Sectors with the Most Company Formations:

• Wholesale and retail trade: 2.605
• Construction 1.181
• Manufacturing: 1.176

Most Closed Sectors:

• Wholesale/retail trade: 689
• Manufacturing: 273
• Construction: 168

The most closures in real person enterprises were in trade (466), construction (201) and manufacturing (106) sectors.

Types of Cooperatives Established

Positive aspects of March 2025 data

1. The 14.2% increase in real person enterprises shows that interest in entrepreneurship continues.
2. The high foreign capital ratio of 89.5% confirms that Turkey is still attractive to investors.
3. Company establishments took place in all 81 provinces. This shows that economic activity is spreading.

Negative Aspects of March 2025 Data

1. The decline in the number of start-ups (4.7%) may signal a weakening in the pace of economic growth.
2. The 41.5% decline in capital may indicate an increase in undercapitalized and risky enterprises.
3. The increase in company closures (15.1%) indicates that economic difficulties persist.
4. The decline in the number of cooperatives may suggest a decline in trust in solidarity and partnership culture.

Advice from MFY Legal

For entrepreneurs, investors and company owners, such periodic data is critical not only for economic but also for legal strategy:

• Companies going into liquidation may face serious risks in terms of debt follow-up, contract cancellation and labor rights.
• It is important for entrepreneurs establishing foreign partnerships to receive professional support for legal structuring, double taxation avoidance agreements, residence and work permit processes.
• Newly established companies should proceed with the guidance of a lawyer, especially in terms of contract drafting, share transfers, trademark registration and articles of association.

Source: All data is based on the “Established and Closed Companies March 2025 Bulletin” published by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) on April 18, 2025.

For detailed tables: www.tobb.org.tr/resmi-istatistik