Press

That's according to consultancy firm LRF Konsult's numbers, released as the results of their new profitability barometer based on the annual accounts of 2,441 companies with 0-15 employees. 2016 showed the highest profitability for small businesses in the five years the firm has examined, with an average of 18.2 percent of revenue as profit. The best numbers came from businesses in Södermanland and Gotland in the south-east of the country, who reported an average profitability of 23.7 percent. The consultancy firm noted some concerns however, including decreasing personnel costs. Further warning signs have come in the form of statistics from the Swedish Companies Registration Office, which show that the number of new businesses fell by 10.7 percent in January 2017 compared to January 2016. (The Local)