THE number of businesses started in Scotland in the fourth quarter of last year was down 12.1% on the July to September period and 15.6% lower than in the final three months of 2011, according to figures for bank account openings.
The Committee of Scottish Bankers recorded 2716 business start-ups in the final three months of 2012. This was down from 3091 in the third quarter and adrift of the figure of 3218 for the final three months of 2011.
These figures measure new business start-ups based in Scotland which have opened accounts with Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, or Royal Bank of Scotland.
There were sharp drops in the number of start-ups in the Scottish construction and manufacturing sectors.
In the fourth quarter of last year, the Committee of Scottish Bankers recorded 271 construction start-ups, down from 358 in the preceding three months and well below the figure of 363 for the October to December 2011 period.
In the manufacturing sector, 136 start-ups were recorded in the fourth quarter by the Committee of Scottish Bankers, down from 214 in the preceding three months and also well adrift of the figure of 199 for the closing quarter of 2011.
Taking 2012 as a whole, the Committee of Scottish Bankers recorded 13,856 business start-ups. This was down 6% on the corresponding figure of 14,737 for 2011.
Of the 13,856 business start-ups last year, 5497 were sole traders, 1082 were partnerships, and 7277 were companies.
Colin Borland, head of external affairs for the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland, said there was still plenty of people "willing to take the plunge" by starting their own businesses.
However, referring to the fall in start-ups in the context of weak consumer and business confidence, he added: "It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that people are a bit more cautious."
Mr Borland highlighted the difficult employment backdrop and the fact some people were starting businesses after losing their jobs.
Referring to people's decisions to start up businesses, he said: "Sometimes that is through necessity rather than choice, given the state of the labour market."
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