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Management Consultants in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Ashkan Salim Ashkan Salim Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ M70.22DE

Revenue

€47.1bn

2024

€47.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

281k

Businesses

88,731

Wages

€XX.Xbn

Management Consultants in Germany industry analysis

The management consultancy sector in Germany is undergoing a major transformation as a result of digitalisation. The digitalisation process in corporate and organisational structures, intensified by the pandemic and the increase in working from home, has led to companies and public institutions increasingly making use of consulting services, particularly for digital strategies. There is particularly high growth potential in the area of data analysis and big data. Smaller consulting firms in particular are attracting attention with customised solutions and are successfully competing with big names such as McKinsey. These smaller companies, often referred to as hidden champions, are very popular with SMEs that value specialised services and social skills. Between 2019 and 2024, industry turnover increased by an average of 1.4% per year.Although economic fluctuations influence growth in the sector, both economic upturns and recessionary phases can increase demand for consulting services, as companies seek advice on optimising or overcoming challenges in both scenarios. Despite increasing internal and external competition, demand for consulting services in the field of digitalisation remains high. In the current year, turnover in the management consultancy sector is expected to grow by 1.5% to 47.1 billion euros.IBISWorld expects industry revenue to increase at an average annual growth rate of 1.9% over the next five years to reach 51.6 billion euros in 2029. The management consulting industry in Germany is experiencing strong demand for specialised consulting services (Consulting 4.0) due to the digital transformation and the increasing importance of sustainability issues. This is leading to increased competition for skilled labour and the growing importance of marketing strategies and employer branding in order to attract talent and market services effectively. In addition, a market segmentation is emerging in which innovative top consultants are differentiating themselves from standard providers. Companies that want to hold their own in this landscape must excel through continuous innovation and differentiating service, while cross-divisional collaborations are increasingly being used to create synergies and ensure competitiveness.

Trends and Insights

  • Digitalisation is increasing the need for consulting services. In order to manage the digital transformation, many companies are turning to external consultants for support.
  • Consulting services in the field of digitalisation and IT currently generate the largest share of turnover in the industry. In order to keep up with the rapid pace of technological progress, many companies use the services of industry players.
  • The central region is home to the largest proportion of management consultancies. Renowned consultancies such as McKinsey, BCG and Bain & Company are based in North Rhine-Westphalia.
  • The intensity of competition within the industry is moderate, but with an upward trend. The reason for this is the increasing number of new providers entering the consulting market and the fact that providers from outside the industry are expanding their consulting services.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €47.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Digitalisation is transforming the management consulting industry

  • The German business and organisational landscape is undergoing a comprehensive digital transformation process that requires fundamental changes in business and administration.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Management Consultants in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Digital transformation and sustainability remain key trends in the industry

  • The demand for consulting services is growing due to the digital transformation and technological innovation. The ICT sector is acting as a growth driver. In the future, we can expect a shift towards Consulting 4.0 with specialised, digitally oriented consulting services.

Biggest companies in the Management Consultants in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Accenture Holding B. V. & Co. KG
1,670.0
McKinsey & Company, Inc.
1,116.0
PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH
1,095.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Management Consultants in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Consulting services in the area of digitalisation, Consultancy services in the area of change management and Consultancy services in the area of strategy and innovation. Consulting services in the area of digitalisation is the largest segment of the Management Consultants in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Digitalisation consulting is the sector's most important area of activity

  • Consulting services in the field of digitalisation have emerged as the strongest revenue-generating segment in the industry in recent years.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector includes consulting, guidance and practical support for companies and other organisations in management-related issues such as strategic organisational planning, design, development and control. Consultancy activities in auditing, tax consultancy and accounting (IBISWorld sector report M69.20EN) and legal advice (M69.10EN) are to be distinguished from this.

What's included in this industry?

Consulting services in the area of digitalisationConsultancy services in the area of change managementConsultancy services in the area of strategy and innovationConsultancy services in the area of marketing and sales

Companies

Accenture Holding B. V. & Co. KGMcKinsey & Company, Inc.PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CHANGE MANAGEMENTITKINHOUSE CONSULTINGHIDDEN CHAMPIONARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (KI)BIG DATABLOCKCHAINCLOUD

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 70.22 - Management Consultants in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Digitalisation is increasing the need for consulting services. In order to manage the digital transformation, many companies are turning to external consultants for support.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Consulting services in the field of digitalisation and IT currently generate the largest share of turnover in the industry. In order to keep up with the rapid pace of technol...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The central region is home to the largest proportion of management consultancies. Renowned consultancies such as McKinsey, BCG and Bain & Company are based in North Rhine-Wes...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The intensity of competition within the industry is moderate, but with an upward trend. The reason for this is the increasing number of new providers entering the consulting ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major players in the management consultancy sector. Most companies in the German consulting market are individual companies, which means that market concentratio...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Accenture Holding B. V. & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of McKinsey & Company, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Accenture Holding B. V. & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for McKinsey & Company, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The number of IPOs and M&A transactions provides an indication of the demand for the services of management consultants. If there are more IPOs or M&A transactions, the deman...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The profit margin can vary greatly from consultancy to consultancy. As a rule, however, larger players have higher profit margins than smaller ones.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Management Consultants industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Management Consultants industry in Germany is €47.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Management Consultants in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 88,731 businesses in the Management Consultants industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Management Consultants industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Management Consultants industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Management Consultants industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Management Consultants industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Management Consultants market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Management Consultants market in Germany are Accenture Holding B. V. & Co. KG, McKinsey & Company, Inc. and PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH

What does the Management Consultants in Germany include?

Consulting services in the area of digitalisation and Consultancy services in the area of change management are part of the Management Consultants industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Management Consultants in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Accenture Holding B. V. & Co. KG.

How competitive is the Management Consultants industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Management Consultants industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.