The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) has released its bulletin relating to establishment and closure of companies in Turkey in January 2026.
The number of companies newly established in January 2026 was 11,115, which is an increase of 0.7% on the figure of 11,035 recorded in the same month of the previous year, but a decrease of 13.1% on that of the previous month of December 2025. Cooperatives opening decreased 29.9% to 117, but sole proprietorships opening increased 1.4% to 1,763 compared with the same month of the previous year.
The number of companies newly established in the total year of 2025 was 113,779, which is a decrease of 1.5% on the figure of 115,465 recorded in the previous year. Cooperatives opening decreased 30.9% to 1,848, but sole proprietorships opening increased 10.8% to 17,972 compared with the previous year.
The number of companies closing in January 2026 was 1,604, which is a decrease of 1.8% on the figure of 1,955 recorded in the same month of the previous year, and a decrease of 78% on the figure for the previous month of December. Cooperatives closing decreased 26.8% to 60, and sole proprietorships closing decreased 10.8% to 2,010 compared with the same month of the previous year.
The number of companies closing in the total year of 2025 was 33,270, which is an increase of 5.9% on the figure of 31,416 recorded in the previous year. Cooperatives closing increased 6.4% to 1,276, but sole proprietorships closing decreased 8.1% to 16,286 compared with the previous year.
Despite the continuing economic recession in Turkey, there does not appear to as yet be any significant deterioration in the number of companies and sole proprietorships being established and closed. Though there has been a 1.5% decrease in the number of companies opened and a 5.9% increase in companies closed in 2025 compared with the previous year, the number of companies opened was 3.4 times greater than the number closed. With regards sole proprietorships though, the number opening in 2025 exceeded those closing by 1,686. There would appear to be a move towards the adoption of sole proprietorships instead of companies which would account for negative results of company foundations in 2025.