The current mood barometer of VR Smart Finance / Situation remains
tense – small business but optimistic for the future (PHOTO)
Eschborn (ots) – Despite the continued tense situation, there are signs
The study by VR Smart shows that there is an upturn in sentiment among small businesses
Finance and the Steinbeis University from November 2025. The
Small business index from VR Smart Finanz shows that the respondents are their
rate the economic situation as slightly better compared to 12 months ago
than in April 2025. The indicator for the 12-month review increases slightly by 2
Points to +2. The look ahead is much more positive: The
Future indicator grows noticeably by 11 points to +30. Take accordingly
Worries about the coming months are subsiding and the willingness to invest is growing.
However, politics has no role in this, the study shows.
Improved situation assessment for small businesses
Small businesses are seeing not only the future, but also the current situation
more positive. The proportion of companies that consider their current situation to be good or good
rated very good, has increased to 49 percent (+9 percentage points). However
A constant proportion of just under a fifth keeps track of their own situation
as before for bad or very bad. Many companies are still suffering
are experiencing financial difficulties: More than half of the companies (53
percent) reported liquidity bottlenecks and therefore just as many as in
Spring.
Investment activity is picking up
With the improved mood, investment reluctance is also decreasing
small business. The proportion of companies that in the last 12
In the last few months, investments have been made or made up as planned
Compared to spring, it increased by 9 percentage points to 68 percent. At the same time
Fewer companies postponed or canceled investments altogether (-4
percentage points to 36 percent). This upward trend is also reflected in the
investment projects for the future.
New depreciation rules provide incentives
The majority of those surveyed are planning investments for the coming years: 78
percent of companies want to in the coming years
Digitalization/Investing in automation, closely followed by
Business equipment as well as product and service extensions. It shows
at the same time a shift in priorities: spending on sustainability and
Energy efficiency is becoming less relevant (-12 percentage points as of April 2025). The
The government’s immediate investment program is having an impact: 46 percent of the
Small businesses that want to invest in business equipment call them
new declining balance depreciation options as a key stimulus.
Bad marks for the new government
Even if the depreciation rules are well received, the policy remains
stumbling block. Market uncertainty as well as bureaucracy and regulation are for more than
two thirds of small businesses are the biggest obstacles to investment. The new one
Government has not yet delivered here. In particular, reduction measures
from bureaucracy and regulation as well as to reduce energy costs and
Taxes/duties therefore get bad marks. Around half of those surveyed
considers this to be inadequate to insufficient. Accordingly, expect more than that
Half of the companies (57 percent) received no growth impulses from Berlin.
Worries about the future are decreasing
Despite the critical view of politics, small businesses are for them
Future optimistic. Your worries for the coming months have been compared
subsided to the preliminary survey. A decline in demand remains for around 40 percent
of small businesses is the main concern, but is down slightly compared to April
(-2 percentage points). Above all, the cost situation, also with regard to energy,
has stabilized: fears of a further increase are at 11
percentage points dropped to 44 percent.
Clear message to politicians
The conditions for dynamic growth in small businesses are present. She
look optimistically into the future despite challenging conditions
are planning increased investments. Now it’s up to politicians to…
To improve framework conditions in order to remove obstacles to investment. Fewer
Bureaucracy, competitive energy prices and tax relief
Taxes are crucial to ensure that investment projects actually come from
Growth occurs. Otherwise, the debt-financed growth package
just create a short flash in the pan.
About the study: The mood barometer is a regular study that VR Smart
Finance since 2019 together with the CFin – Research Center For Financial Services
the Steinbeis University on the situation and needs of
Small business charges. The survey took place from September 19th to 30th, 2025
300 business customers, commercial customers, self-employed people and companies from the
smaller medium-sized businesses with an annual turnover of up to six million euros.
Further details about the study and its results can be found below
https://www.vr-smart-finanz.de/stimmsbarometer-2025-11.
Press contact:
Annette Spiegel
Head of Marketing & Communication
Tel. +49 6196 99 4385
mailto:[email protected]
Further material: http://presseportal.de/pm/170303/6165551
OTS: VR Smart Finanz AG