Boden continues to be one of the country’s leading municipalities in terms of small business climate. In this year’s Small Business Index 2025, the municipality is ranked 15th out of 290, an improvement from the previous year. This means that Boden is the third best municipality in Norrbotten, after Älvsbyn and Arjeplog, and the second best in the country among low-commuting municipalities near major cities.
The Small Business Index measures nine dimensions that affect the conditions for entrepreneurship. Boden is above the national average in five of these, including capital supply, municipal business policy and the school system. These areas contribute to the municipality’s strong ranking in this year’s survey.
At the same time, the report shows that there are challenges where Boden is below average, including the survival rate among new businesses and the proportion of entrepreneurs in the population. The municipality’s welfare commitments also affect the rating.
In third place in the county
In a regional comparison, Boden consolidates its position as one of the county’s strongest business municipalities. Boden ranks third in Norrbotten, only Älvsbyn (5th in the country) and Arjeplog (11th) rank higher.
– It is very pleasing to see that small businesses in Boden continue to develop. After all, it is these that are the basis of our growing business community. It also feels very good that these companies feel a continued strong support from the municipality’s various activities, says Thomas Fägerman, CEO of Boden Business Park.
Norrbotten stronger than the national average
In parallel with the Small Business Index, the Small Business Barometer 2025 also shows that Norrbotten’s small businesses are stronger than the national average. The economic indicator for the county is +15, compared with -13 for the country, and 87 percent of companies in Norrbotten feel that they have good profitability. The biggest challenge for the county’s companies is the supply of skills, followed by weak demand.
Boden’s performance in this year’s index gives a clear picture of a municipality with stable conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises, while some structural factors continue to affect development.
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