SBLA Commercial location analysis · Switzerland

Opening a business in the canton of Obwalden

The official figures for the canton of Obwalden, then the detail by activity. The analysis itself runs on a specific address.

The canton of Obwalden in figures

Population39’662inhabitants across 7 municipalities
Average taxable income64’496 CHFper taxpayer
Median age45.4years · 59.0 % aged 20–64
Reference commercial rent15.90 CHFper m² per month
Average municipal tax multiplier470.9 %(2025)
Projected population 203541’214inhabitants (+3.7 %)

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Setup costs

At 15.90 CHF/m²/month (FSO 2024), a 90 m² retail space costs around 1’431 CHF per month excluding charges. The canton’s average municipal tax multiplier is 470.9 % (2025) — it varies widely between municipalities, and that gap feeds straight through to the bottom line. It is not comparable across cantons: each canton applies its multiplier to its own tax base.

Snapshot of 17 July 2026: 3 commercial spaces were advertised for rent in the canton of Obwalden.

Footfall and access

The canton’s busiest railway stations are Sarnen (3’900), Engelberg (2’700), Alpnach Dorf (1’700) (passengers per day, SBB 2025). Station footfall is a good proxy for a town-centre shop; SBLA additionally measures public-transport quality (ARE classes) and road traffic (ASTRA) at the analysed address.

The canton recorded 180 new dwellings in 2023 — a growth signal for the resident customer base.

Where to open in the canton of Obwalden?

The most populous municipalities offer the largest catchment — and the densest competition. Start the analysis directly on one of them:

The other side

How it works

  1. You enter an address

    The exact address of the space and the intended activity — not just a municipality.

  2. SBLA combines the data

    Population hectare by hectare, competition, transport, rents, taxation: some thirty official, dated indicators.

  3. You get a verdict

    A 0–100 viability score, a competition map and a report you can export as PDF.

Ready to test an address?

The analysis is free and takes under a minute.

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Sources and vintages

Population and age: STATPOP 2024 (FSO). Taxable income: FTA 2022. Businesses: STATENT 2023 (FSO). Jobs by branch: STATENT (FSO). Rents: FSO 2024. Municipal taxation: FTA 2025. Population projections: FSO, reference scenario. Station footfall: SBB 2025. Household budget: FSO 2023. Every figure on this page is recomputed at each publication.