Business services generate over 5 percent more revenue in the second quarter

In the second quarter of 2026, the revenue of companies in business services was 5.4 percent higher than in the same quarter of 2025. All types of companies in this sector earned more. This is mainly because prices rose.

This is according to the Netherlands Statistics Office (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, CBS). For twenty-one consecutive quarters now, these companies have had more revenue than a year earlier. In 2022, growth slowed somewhat, but in the past three quarters revenue has increased more rapidly again.

Architectural firms had the largest revenue growth at 7.9 percent. They mainly earned more because prices increased. Legal firms and employment agencies also earned more, with increases of 6.1 percent and 5.8 percent respectively.

IT companies earned 4.5 percent more than a year ago. In the first quarter of 2026, that growth was still 4.8 percent. Accountants saw 5.1 percent more revenue, mainly because their services became more expensive.

Management consulting firms saw their revenue increase by 2.6 percent. In the previous quarter, that was 2.3 percent. That was the smallest growth since the end of 2020.

In almost all branches within business services, prices increased. The fees of employment agencies rose the most, by 8.5 percent. Accountants, bookkeepers, and tax consultants became 5.1 percent more expensive.

Only for travel agencies did prices decrease slightly, by 0.3 percent. Prices for tax consultants' services rose by 5.4 percent. This is the largest increase in over four years.

The confidence of entrepreneurs in business services at the start of the third quarter of 2026 was still negative at -2.8, but it is better than the previous quarter (-7.6). Entrepreneurs are mainly suffering from the shortage of staff.