mellanstora

Mellanstora is a Swedish term used to describe a category of organizations by size, typically within the private sector. In everyday usage it refers to firms that are larger than micro and small businesses but smaller than large corporations. The term is common in business statistics, policy discussions, and economic reporting.

In European Union practice, medelstora or mellanstora enterprises are defined as having fewer than 250 employees and either an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euros or a balance sheet total not exceeding 43 million euros. In Swedish usage, medelstora or mellanstora företag are often characterized as employing roughly 50 to 249 people, bridging small and large firms.

Role and challenges: Mellanstora firms typically combine some advantages of scale with higher flexibility. They contribute to employment, innovation, and export activity, and are frequent targets for government programs and procurement policies. Common challenges include accessing finance for growth, navigating international markets, and scaling operations without compromising agility.

Statistics and context: The category is used in national and EU statistics to compare economic performance across firm sizes. Sectors with strong representation include manufacturing, professional services, information technology, and logistics.

See also: Small and medium-sized enterprises; EU SME definitions; Statistics Sweden (SCB).