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Exits outnumber new registrations for the second consecutive month, but a sharp recovery from January’s steep deficit offers a cautious signal of stabilisation

Romania’s business register recorded a near-perfect — and decidedly uncomfortable — equilibrium in February 2026: for every 100 companies born, roughly 101 exited the market. The result was a net loss of 119 businesses , a figure that, taken in isolation, looks worrying. Viewed against January’s haemorrhage of –2,686 net businesses , however, February tells a markedly different — and more nuanced — story.

Romania recorded 13,139 new business registrations in February 2026 , marking a solid rebound from January and extending the country’s year-on-year growth streak. Yet the headline figure tells only part of the story: business exits nearly matched new entrants in the same month, painting a picture of an ecosystem where entrepreneurial energy is running high — but so is attrition.

A Strong February, Despite Being the Shortest Month

February’s 13,139 registrations represent an 18.6% increase over January 2026’s 11,075 , consistent with the typical seasonal pattern: January tends to be sluggish as businesses finalise year-end matters, while February sees a reset of entrepreneurial activity. Year-on-year, February 2026 outpaced February 2025’s 12,099 registrations by 8.6% , adding 1,040 registrations compared to the same month last year.

Registration Volumes Climb as the Ecosystem Edges Back Toward Balance

The three-month window stretching from December 2025 through February 2026 tells a story of gathering momentum. Total company registrations across the quarter rose meaningfully compared to the same period a year earlier, exit volumes declined relative to prior benchmarks, and the business ecosystem’s health ratio — measuring new registrations against total exits — improved with each successive month. Beneath these broad headlines, however, a structural shift in how Romanians choose to formalize their businesses is quietly reshaping the composition of the national register.

Romania recorded 13,139 new business registrations in February 2026 — an 8.6% increase over the same month a year ago and an 18.6% jump from January 2026 . The headline figure, however, masks a sharply uneven story across sectors: manufacturing and transport are booming at historic rates, independent freelancers are registering in record numbers, while retail trade and real estate are quietly retreating.

A robust year-over-year gain masks a dramatic pivot away from limited liability companies toward sole traders — while rising dissolutions signal a more selective business environment.

Romania recorded 13,139 new business registrations in February 2026 , up from 12,099 a year earlier — a year-over-year increase of 8.6% . On the surface, the headline figure tells a story of continued entrepreneurial momentum. But beneath it lies a striking realignment: Romanian entrepreneurs are increasingly choosing leaner, simpler business structures, and entire industries are trading places in the registration rankings.

Romania recorded 13,139 new business registrations in February 2026 — an 8.6% increase over the same month a year earlier. But the headline total, while encouraging, masks a far more consequential story: the composition of those registrations is shifting at a pace not often seen in the country’s post-transition entrepreneurial history. The limited liability company (SRL) — Romania’s bedrock business vehicle for decades — is ceding ground at a striking rate, while the sole-trader form (PFA) is experiencing nothing short of a surge.

Capital Region Commands Nearly a Third of All New Registrations as Provinces Show Mixed Growth

Romania opened 2026 with 11,075 new business registrations in January — a sharp 27.7% increase year-over-year compared to the 8,675 registered in January 2025 . But beneath this headline figure lies a more nuanced story: growth is not spreading evenly across the country. The Bucharest-Ilfov region is pulling ahead at a pace that few provincial counties can match, reinforcing longstanding patterns of economic concentration around the capital.

Romanian Business Pulse — January 2026 Sector Report

January 2026 delivered a striking opening to the new year for Romania’s business registration landscape. A total of 11,075 new companies and sole traders were registered nationally — a +27.7% jump compared to January 2025’s 8,675 registrations. But the headline number only hints at a more complex story playing out beneath the surface: some sectors are experiencing extraordinary acceleration, one is quietly retreating, and the overall business ecosystem is running a net deficit of entries over exits. Here is a sector-by-sector look at what the January data actually shows.

Churn Rate at 124%, But a Meaningful Recovery from December’s 137% Low

The Big Picture: More Businesses Are Leaving Than Arriving

Romania opened 2026 with a business landscape under measurable strain. In January, the country recorded 11,075 new registrations against 13,761 total business exits , producing a net loss of 2,686 active entities — meaning the registered business stock shrank for the month.

The resulting churn rate of 124.25% — meaning exits ran at 124 for every 100 new registrations — signals a market that is consolidating rather than expanding. The health ratio, which measures registrations against exits, stood at 0.80 , well below the 1.0 threshold that would indicate a balanced ecosystem.

January 2026 saw Romania record its highest January registration count in recent years, driven by an extraordinary leap in sole trader filings. Yet beneath the headline growth, a rising tide of business exits signals a more complex picture for the national business ecosystem.

A Robust Start to the Year

Romania registered 11,075 new businesses in January 2026 , a 27.7% increase compared to the 8,675 registrations recorded in January 2025. While a modest month-over-month dip of 4.8% from December 2025’s 11,632 registrations is notable, such a seasonal pullback is entirely typical for January — the post-holiday period routinely sees administrative activity slow before picking up pace.