List of the 400 largest service companies Germany [2024 Update]

List of the 5 largest service companies in Germany

The service sector accounts for over two thirds of Germany’s gross value added. We are a service society. Countless business models are service-oriented – including these five service providers in the country:

1. Syneco Trading GmbH, Munich

Syneco Trading is a subsidiary of the Thüga Group and acts as a central trading and service platform for the Thüga companies. These are around 100 municipal utilities – the largest German network of municipal service providers. In addition to trading products, Syneco Trading offers services in the areas of market info, risk management, energy regulation and energy logistics.

Update 2023: Various companies will operate under the new umbrella brand “Thüga Solutions” in the future. In addition to Syneco Trading GmbH, which is the subject of this report, these include the following players: Providata GmbH, Thüga Assekuranz Services München Versicherungsmakler GmbH, Thüga Erneuerbare Energien GmbH & Co. KG and Thüga Smart Service GmbH.

2. Bilfinger SE, Mannheim

Bilfinger’s activities were long dominated by construction projects. Over time, the company has evolved into a provider of industrial services. Maintenance, general inspection, consulting, engineering, assembly and manufacturing – today Bilfinger provides services in these areas, including for the chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas industries.

Update 2024: What was already apparent in the previous year also applies to 2024: hydrogen projects are playing an increasingly important role for the industrial service provider from Mannheim. According to the company, more than 20 hydrogen projects have been completed since 2019, and the trend is rising.

3. DEKRA SE, Stuttgart

DEKRA has been operating as a technical testing company since 1925, primarily in the automotive sector and for technical equipment. It also provides other services – including certification, technical inspection, safety consulting, damage assessment, claims settlement and training. DEKRA employs just under 44,000 people.

4. Sixt SE, Pullach

Car rental has been part of the Sixt business model since 1912. Today, the family-owned company is represented in 110 countries and offers car rental, car sharing and other car services. There are around 500 Sixt rental stations throughout Germany, and around 2,000 worldwide. Sixt has just under 7,000 employees.

5. Sopra Steria SE, Hamburg

Sopra Steria Group is a French management and technology consultancy with a pan-European focus and around 44,000 employees (consolidated revenue: EUR 4.3 billion). The German subsidiary Sopra Steria SE (formerly Mummert Consulting) employs around 2,800 people in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Berlin and Schrobenhausen.

Picture source: Cytonn Photography via Unsplash (05.07.2023)

This information is included in the directory

• Company name
• General contact data (address, e-mail address, telephone number, URL)
• Name of the management
• Serial letter suitable for addressing the management (e.g. “Dear Dr. Müller”)
• Sales figures for the years 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements)
• Employee figures for the years 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements)
• Sector classification & Field of activity

Note: If the sales and employee figures are not included in a company’s own financial statements but in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the data from the respective consolidated financial statements are provided.

Map of the largest service providers

Covered industries by our list

The database of the largest service companies is part of our comprehensive overview of the largest companies in Germany. Based on the detailed subdivision by industry and field of activity, we have selected the most important service providers and offer them in a separate list. To give you an impression of the companies included in the data set, we have listed the industries and segments covered by the list below. Not included in the database are companies that are already covered by other lists (e.g. top retail companies, top logistics companies).

• Consulting services (e.g. management consulting, tax consulting, IT consulting)
• Testing services (e.g. expert, quality testing, meter reading companies)
• Advertising services (e.g. advertising space marketing, advertising agency, marketing consulting)
• Real estate services (e.g. facility management, site operator, property management)
• Personnel services (e.g. personnel placement, personnel leasing, outsourcing)
• Engineering services (e.g. planning and conception, test services, plant construction)
• Cleaning services (e.g. building cleaning, industrial cleaning, clinic cleaning)
• Security services (e.g. security services, guarding, money transport)
• etc.

Cities: Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Co.

The following graph is based on the database of the service providers with the highest turnover in Germany. It lists the cities in which the companies from the list have their headquarters.

The German service industry at a glance

Even if, unlike many other Western countries, Germany still produces a lot, the trend towards a service economy is unmistakable. It accounts for over two thirds of Germany’s domestic product, almost three quarters of jobs and 80 percent of all companies. The spectrum of services is enormous. Generally speaking, service means providing services for others in return for payment. This includes activities such as consulting, mediation, transportation, service, treatment, accompaniment, support and many more.

The service sector is divided into a variety of branches. A rough subdivision is often made: into business-related services, real estate services, consumer-related services and public services. Our list covers services in the areas of consulting services, industrial services, auditing services, advertising services, security services, cleaning services, etc. Some industries, which are often prescribed into the service sector, are covered in our own lists. If you want to have a closer look at them, you can take a look at our industry classification of the list of the largest companies in Germany (since this is the basis of the list) or ask our support.