New business start-ups in 2004

The enterprise database of the World Bank provides indicators by means of which the enterprise-related regulations of more than 130 countries can be compared, among other things also data and information on new business start-ups. According to this source, small and medium-sized enterprises can be set up fast and at small costs in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and in the United States, while starting a business in central and eastern European countries can be laborious and expensive. Germany occupies a mid-range position. At the beginning of 2004 a new business required nine approvals taking a total of 45 days.