In most districts, more female freelancers are setting up their own businesses than their male colleagues
The number of new freelance businesses in Germany has risen from around 95,000 in 2024 to just over 111,000 in 2025. Berlin registered the highest number of new freelance businesses – followed by Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Leipzig, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. However, when looking at the start-up rate (number of new businesses per 10,000 residents of working age), Berlin also ranks first, followed by Leipzig and the Munich district.
“Freelance start-ups often take place in densely populated cities and districts that are also home to universities and/or administrative institutions. The latter generate high demand for consultancy and academic services,” reports IfM researcher Peter Kranzusch.
Where more men than women are entering the liberal professions
In most cities and districts, the rate of start-ups among women is higher than that among men. Only in 41 districts is this not the case: for example, the city of Heidelberg ranks among the ten districts with the highest start-up rate for men. In the ranking for female freelancers, the city is in 21st place.
