Starting a business can be a daunting task, and the choices entrepreneurs make early on can greatly impact their success. Securing funding and building a passionate team are already challenging enough, and the current economic climate makes it even more critical to choose the right launch location. Business Name Generator has analyzed 50 countries to reveal the best places to launch a startup, looking at business tax rates, economic GDP growth, and the cost of startup procedures. The Startup Index study also looks at country happiness, the cost of living, and quality of life to find out where is home to the most content employees, helping drive productivity and growth.
The Czech Republic is ranked as the best country for startups in 2023, followed by Finland and Sweden
The Czech Republic emerged as the top country for startups. Its low cost of starting a business, with procedures costing just 1.1% of Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, combined with reasonable labor costs averaging $1,800, make it an attractive option.
Despite having some of the highest labor costs with an average monthly salary of $4,500, Finland still ranks second. The happiness of its citizens, the highest in the world, can have a favorable impact on business success.
Sweden placed third, with slightly lower labor costs of $4,300, but still relatively inexpensive start-up procedures at 0.5% of GNI per capita. However, business tax in Sweden is slightly elevated at 20.60%.
The top 10 countries for launching a startup:
|
Rank |
Country |
Business Tax Rate (%) |
Economic GDP growth (2022) |
Mean monthly salary (USD) |
Cost of startup procedures (% GNI per capita) |
Happiness score |
Quality of life score |
Monthly cost of living excl. rent (EUR) |
|
1 |
Czech Republic |
19.00 |
1.9 |
$1,800 |
1.1 |
6.97 |
163.0 |
$735 |
|
2 |
Finland |
20.00 |
2.1 |
$4,500 |
0.7 |
7.84 |
189.9 |
$931 |
|
3 |
Sweden |
20.60 |
2.6 |
$4,300 |
0.5 |
7.36 |
176.6 |
$881 |
|
4 |
Estonia |
20.00 |
1.0 |
$1,200 |
1.0 |
6.19 |
171.6 |
$830 |
|
5 |
Slovakia |
21.00 |
1.8 |
$1,550 |
1.0 |
6.33 |
149.9 |
$660 |
|
6 |
United Kingdom |
19.00 |
3.6 |
$4,600 |
0.0 |
7.06 |
166.6 |
$865 |
|
7 |
Netherlands |
25.80 |
4.5 |
$3,900 |
4.0 |
7.46 |
197.8 |
$977 |
|
8 |
Austria |
25.00 |
4.7 |
$3,200 |
4.7 |
7.27 |
186.2 |
$965 |
|
9 |
Denmark |
22.00 |
2.6 |
$5,900 |
0.2 |
7.62 |
195.1 |
$1,083 |
|
10 |
Portugal |
31.50 |
6.2 |
$2,200 |
1.9 |
5.93 |
164.0 |
$626 |
Philippines, Egypt, and India are considered the least favorable countries for startups
The Philippines is revealed to be the worst country in which to start a business. The cost of launching a startup is the highest among all the countries analyzed, totaling 23.3% of GNI per capita. Businesses are also taxed at a higher rate of 25%.
Egypt comes in second place as the worst place to launch a startup. Despite the availability of low-cost labor, India ranks lowest in terms of happiness and quality of life, with a score of only 3.81 and 118.4, respectively. This could greatly impact job satisfaction, productivity, and overall well-being in the workplace. Additionally, the country’s 30% business tax rate may offset some of the savings gained from affordable labor.
|
Rank |
Country |
Business Tax Rate (%) |
Economic GDP growth (2022) |
Mean monthly salary (USD) |
Cost of startup procedures (% GNI per capita) |
Happiness score |
Quality of life score |
Monthly cost of living excl. rent (EUR) |
|
1 |
Philippines |
25.00 |
6.5 |
$850 |
23.3 |
5.88 |
81.8 |
$503 |
|
2 |
Egypt |
22.50 |
6.6 |
$1,200 |
20.3 |
4.283 |
91.0 |
$273 |
|
3 |
India |
30.00 |
6.8 |
$610 |
7.2 |
3.819 |
118.4 |
$317 |
|
4 |
S. Korea |
27.50 |
2.6 |
$2,900 |
14.6 |
5.845 |
133.1 |
$1,028 |
|
5 |
Vietnam |
20.00 |
7.0 |
$180 |
5.6 |
5.411 |
89.6 |
$463 |
European countries are the best for quality of life and happiness, while Egypt leads for affordable living costs
Working for a startup can be rewarding but also demanding, therefore, it’s crucial for entrepreneurs to prioritize the happiness, health, and well-being of their employees. When it comes to measuring employee well-being, Europe leads in terms of happiness and quality of life. However, when it comes to the cost of living, Egypt, India, and Argentina come out on top.
|
Rank |
Quality of Life |
Happiness |
Lowest cost of living |
|
1 |
Netherlands |
Finland |
Egypt |
|
2 |
Luxembourg |
Denmark |
India |
|
3 |
Denmark |
Switzerland |
Argentina |
|
4 |
Switzerland |
Netherlands |
Turkey |
|
5 |
Finland |
Norway |
Indonesia |
Chloe Chai, the spokesperson for Business Name Generator, comments:
“Entrepreneurs face many important decisions when launching or expanding their business, and choosing the right location is one of the most crucial. The location of a business can have a significant impact on its success, affecting access to resources, market demand, and competition. Entrepreneurs must carefully consider the economic, demographic, and cultural factors of potential locations.
“They must also evaluate the legal and regulatory environment, including taxes, labor laws, and zoning regulations, and how these will impact their operations. Ultimately, the decision of where to launch can be a make-or-break factor for success, therefore, is vital for entrepreneurs to weigh up all relevant facets.”
Business Name Generator (part of the Performance Marketing Group Marketzoo) is a free online tool helping people create unique, fun, and mind-blowing business names for their startups.
