How many business failures were recorded in Switzerland and Ticino during the first nine months?

In the first nine months of the year, there were 11,412 company bankruptcies in Switzerland, recording a growth of 37% compared to the same previous period. Ticino ranks above the national average with 721 bankruptcies, equal to an increase of 48%, according to data published by Crif.

What legislative changes have affected the data on corporate bankruptcies?

One of the reasons for the increase, according to Crif, is the legislative change that came into force on January 1, 2025. Since that date, the tax debts of companies entered in the commercial register can be enforced through bankruptcy proceedings, whereas previously the authorities could only collect unpaid taxes through seizure.

What is the situation with new companies that opened during the same period?

In the same period, 40,487 new companies were created, marking an increase of 2% on an annual basis. At the cantonal level, Ticino rose to 1,806 new companies with an increase of 9%, while Graubünden recorded 853 new openings with an increase of 8.1%, according to data from the CRIF survey.

Bankruptcies on the rise. And Ticino is above average

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 2 October 2026

Increase in corporate bankruptcies and new companies in Ticino

In the first nine months of the year, corporate bankruptcies in Switzerland rose to 11,412 (+37%). Ticino recorded 721 bankruptcies, an increase of 48%.

Context

At a Glance

11,412 bankruptcies in the first nine months, up 37% nationwide
Ticino reports 721 bankruptcies: up 48%, above the average
The change effective January 1, 2025, concerns tax debts
40,487 new companies established during the same period, +2%

Key Facts

Period → first nine months of the year
Bankruptcies in Switzerland → 11,412
National change → 37% compared to 2025
Ticino → 721 bankruptcies, +48%
New companies → 40,487, +2%
Source → Crif

In the first nine months of the year, there were 11,412 corporate bankruptcies in Switzerland, representing a 37% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Ticino ranks above the national average: bankruptcies in the canton reached 721, representing a 48% increase.

The data was published by Crif, a company active in anti-fraud measures, credit checks, and providing information to businesses and individuals. The survey highlights two distinct trends: businesses affected by bankruptcy and those incorporated during the same time period.

Sectors and Regions

Among the sectors listed, construction saw 1,380 companies affected by bankruptcies, a 13% increase. The restaurant industry reached 1,019, with a 20% increase, while the retail sector recorded 895 cases and a 51% increase.

The regional picture is mixed. In addition to Ticino, Graubünden also exceeds the national average: 218 bankruptcies, up 95%. In absolute terms, Zurich reached 1,850 cases, up 28%; Geneva, 1,369, up 65%; and Vaud, 1,006, up 30%.

One reason for the increase, according to Crif, is the legislative change that took effect on January 1, 2025. As of that date, tax debts owed by companies listed in the commercial register can be enforced through bankruptcy proceedings. Previously, authorities could collect unpaid taxes only through seizure.

During the same period, 40,487 new companies were established, a 2% increase year-over-year. Business consulting saw 3,499 new companies (+25%), real estate 3,032 (+6%), construction 2,896 (+5%), and retail 2,823 (-12%). At the cantonal level, Ticino saw 1,806 new companies (+9%) and Graubünden 853 (+8.1%).

Operational details

What Has Changed in the Analysis

A 48% increase in Ticino does not allow us to determine how many bankruptcies were caused by the tax change. Crif presents it as one of the reasons for the increase, but does not break down the portion linked to tax debts in the published data. This distinction prevents us from turning a temporal correlation into a single cause.

The Before-and-After Comparison

For a company listed in the commercial register, the shift from collecting unpaid taxes solely through seizure to the option of enforcing them through bankruptcy proceedings changes the procedural framework described by the source. The date to consider as the turning point is January 1, 2025. However, tax amounts, payment deadlines, or required documents are not specified: including them would go beyond the available data.

Sector-specific figures should also be considered separately. The construction sector appears both among the 1,380 companies affected by bankruptcies (13%) and among new businesses (2,896, up 5%). Retail, on the other hand, recorded 895 bankruptcies (+51%), while new businesses in the sector totaled 2,823 (-12%). The two sets of data do not necessarily describe the same businesses and cannot be automatically balanced. Business consulting, with 3,499 new businesses and a 25% increase, and the real estate sector, with 3,032 and a 6% increase, show where new business openings are concentrated, not how many businesses will remain operational.

Geographically, Ticino recorded 721 bankruptcies and 1,806 new companies; Graubünden recorded 218 and 853. The respective increases—48% and 9% in Ticino, 95% and 8.1% in Graubünden—reflect two distinct trends. To compare risk across cantons, a ratio based on the total number of businesses would be needed, a figure the source does not provide. The absolute figures for Zurich, Geneva, and Vaud, while high, are not sufficient on their own to measure the probability of bankruptcy.

For those looking for indicators related to the labor market, the survey does not provide figures on employment, layoffs, or hiring. The aziende che assumono page can be consulted, but it should not be presented as an automatic consequence of the CRIF data.

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

Checklist for Businesses and Readers

This source provides a systematic assessment but does not calculate individual risk. To use the data without adding external information, it is best to proceed in distinct steps.

1. Identify the Scope

Determine whether you are examining a company listed in the commercial register. For this category, the source describes the possibility, effective January 1, 2025, of enforcing tax debts through bankruptcy proceedings. Do not interpret this wording as a rule applicable to all businesses: the text does not state that.

2. Distinguish the tax-specific case from the general information

If the issue is a tax debt, note the comparison indicated by the source: previously, unpaid taxes were collected through seizure, whereas as of 2025, bankruptcy proceedings are also mentioned. The source does not provide amounts, deadlines, competent agencies, or forms. The verification possible here therefore concerns the distinction between the procedure prior to the amendment and the one following it.

3. Analyze the sector and the region separately

Compare the company’s industry sector with the separate data sets for bankruptcies and new businesses. Do not add bankruptcies and new business openings together, and do not treat the increase in new businesses as evidence of stability. For geographic data, note the canton and decide whether to compare percentage changes or absolute values; do not mix the two criteria.

4. Use the data as a signal, not as a verdict

Anyone evaluating a job or a career change can use the survey as a general indicator and then verify the offers in the annunci di lavoro database. The text does not contain individual data on specific companies, so it does not allow you to determine whether a company is financially sound or in trouble.

To maintain the correct context, do not confuse this statistic with other figures in the material: the 3.7% refers to the increase in health insurance funds in Ticino for 2027, while 312 km/h refers to a news story from France. These figures are unrelated to corporate bankruptcies.

To complete the verification of personal income using a separate tool, use calcolatore stipendio.

Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

How many business failures were recorded in Switzerland and Ticino during the first nine months?: In the first nine months of the year, there were 11,412 company bankruptcies in Switzerland, recording a growth of 37% compared to the same previous period. Ticino ranks above the national average with 721 bankruptcies, equal to an increase of 48%, according to data published by Crif.
What legislative changes have affected the data on corporate bankruptcies?: One of the reasons for the increase, according to Crif, is the legislative change that came into force on January 1, 2025. Since that date, the tax debts of companies entered in the commercial register can be enforced through bankruptcy proceedings, whereas previously the authorities could only collect unpaid taxes through seizure.
What is the situation with new companies that opened during the same period?: In the same period, 40,487 new companies were created, marking an increase of 2% on an annual basis. At the cantonal level, Ticino rose to 1,806 new companies with an increase of 9%, while Graubünden recorded 853 new openings with an increase of 8.1%, according to data from the CRIF survey.