Since 2021, More Than 37,000 Businesses in Austria Have Been Handed Over to New Owners

Austria set a new record for business takeovers in 2025, with 8,202 companies changing ownership — the highest number since records began in 1998, according to the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ). That marks a 5.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. Since 2021, more than 37,000 businesses in Austria have been handed over to new owners.

Looking ahead, the WKÖ warns of a major wave of successions in the coming years and is calling for tax relief to ease the transition. By 2034, around 52,500 small and medium-sized enterprises — excluding one-person businesses — are expected to be up for succession nationwide. According to the WKÖ, that represents roughly 23 percent of all employer businesses in the country, tied to approximately 705,000 jobs. Currently, about 55 percent of all successions still take place within the family, though the trend is declining.