SMB Entrepreneurs Note Growing Interest in Business in Russian Regions

In which areas is it easiest to start a business?

Survey participants highlighted the most accessible industries for starting. Trade was the leader, chosen by 39% of respondents. The service sector was in second place (20%). The least attractive for newcomers to business was the education sector, noted by only 4% of respondents.

Despite possible difficulties, 55% of entrepreneurs said they would not dissuade their acquaintances from opening their own business. This indicates positive expectations and confidence in the market's prospects.

Leaders in entrepreneurial enthusiasm

The analysis of the responses allowed to identify the regions where interest in business among local residents is highest. The top 5 included:

  • Perm - 67%
  • Ufa - 61%
  • Moscow - 60%
  • Omsk - 55%
  • Novosibirsk - 54%

These cities demonstrate the greatest dynamics in terms of entrepreneurial activity and the willingness of citizens to start their own business.

Business expectations for 2025

Entrepreneurs generally positively assess the prospects of their business in the current year. Almost a third (29%) of respondents said they are "rather confident" in the success of 2025, and 26% expressed full confidence in positive results. Among the key success factors, entrepreneurs cite:

  • Profit growth - 55%
  • Revenue increase - 34%
  • Achievement of key performance indicators - 30%

What challenges does business face?

However, not all entrepreneurs look to the future with optimism. Among those who doubt the success of 2025:

  • 33% believe they will have to actively refine the company's products
  • 25% are concerned about the shortage of qualified workers
  • 20% expect possible losses

The problem of staff shortages

The issue of the availability of qualified specialists remains relevant for Russian business. 37% of entrepreneurs noted that they are experiencing a shortage of personnel. Among the reasons:

  • Insufficient number of specialists with specialized education - 53%
  • General shortage of personnel - 40%
  • Unwillingness of employees to learn new things - 26%

Conclusions

The study showed that in 2025, interest in entrepreneurial activity in Russia remains high, especially in a number of leading regions. At the same time, business people are generally optimistic about the prospects of their business, although they note a number of challenges, such as a shortage of qualified personnel and the need to refine products. These trends may become an important indicator for future initiatives to support small and medium-sized businesses in the country.