A survey by Bank of Ireland has found that the construction and property management sectors were the most popular for start-up companies in the first six months of the year.
Almost 20 per cent of the 10,041 new companies formed between January and June this year were based on the property sector.
The bank's research also found that up to 10 per cent of the new companies formed in Ireland since the start of the year are owned by foreign nationals.
Dan McLaughlin, chief economist, with the bank said the level of business start-ups was encouraging.