Small and medium-sized enterprises

The European Commission suggested (in a recommendation 2003/361/EC published on the 6th of May 2003) to define small and medium-sized enterprises as follows: The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. Within the SME category, a small enterprise is defined as an enterprise which employs fewer than 50 persons and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 10 million. Within the SME category, a microenterprise is defined as an enterprise which employs fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 2 million.

The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) defines currently the SME as the enterprises with less than 250 persons employed according to the structural business statistics (STATENT) of the FSO.