Ireland records highest start-up figures in 13 years: 71 new companies formed every day in Quarter One

Company start-ups: Q1 2019 vs Q1 2018

In total, 6,413 new companies were formed in Ireland in the first quarter of 2019, the best Q1 figures in the past 13 years – up almost 14% on the previously record-breaking Q1 2018.

Professional services were the biggest contributor to new start-ups in Quarter One. The professional services industry saw 1,448 new start-ups in the first three months of the year, presenting a 22% increase on this time last year. Social and personal services grew by 50% (945 new companies). The third largest sector was financial services, however it decreased by one percent to 708 new start-up companies (compared to 715 in Q1 2018). Construction saw a modest one percent growth during this time.

In total, 12 counties recorded double-digit growth in start-ups in Quarter One. Dublin recorded the highest number of start-ups. 3,089 start-ups were established in the capital in the first quarter of the new year, amounting to almost 50% of the total number of start-ups established.