State aid for sole proprietors: who is eligible and how to receive up to 15,000 hryvnia
26 January 10:30
The government is expanding its program to support small and medium-sized businesses amid the difficult situation in the energy sector. Individual entrepreneurs in groups 2 and 3 who work in socially important sectors and have employees will be able to receive one-time state aid in the amount of 7,500 to 15,000 hryvnia. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The government is introducing a package of additional support for small and medium-sized businesses in the context of the energy emergency caused by Russian shelling. Despite emergency power outages, entrepreneurs continue to work, perform the functions of points of invulnerability, and incur additional costs. To help businesses get through this difficult period, the relevant decisions were made at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
The support package consists of two key instruments: one-time financial assistance for energy independence and preferential 0% loans for energy equipment.
One-time financial assistance for sole proprietors in groups 2–3
Individual entrepreneurs in groups 2–3 who work in socially important areas (catering establishments, pharmacies, coffee shops, grocery stores, bakeries, and other essential services) will be able to receive a one-time payment of between UAH 7,500 and UAH 15,000.
State assistance is provided to sole proprietors who meet the following conditions:
- are in the 2nd or 3rd group of the simplified taxation system;
- work in socially important areas;
- have at least one employee;
- have submitted an application through the “Dія” portal and passed verification.
What the funds can be spent on
The money received has a specific purpose. It can be used for:
- purchasing generators and other power equipment;
- repairing autonomous power supply equipment;
- purchasing fuel for generators;
- paying for electricity.
Applications will be verified by partner banks, and funds will be transferred by the State Employment Service.
0% loan for energy equipment for businesses
The second instrument is a targeted 0% loan for enterprises that meet the criteria of the 5-7-9% program. The funds can be used to purchase generators and batteries.
Key parameters of the program:
- zero interest rate, with the difference compensated by the state through the Entrepreneurship Development Fund;
- almost 50 partner banks participating in the program;
- loan term — up to 3 years;
- maximum amount — up to UAH 10 million.
As Yulia Svyrydenko noted, small and medium-sized businesses will receive additional tools to help them operate under conditions of strain on the power grid and reduce the risk of downtime.
How many sole proprietorships operate in Ukraine
As of today, there are 2,181,217 individual entrepreneurs registered in Ukraine. In the last month alone, their number has grown by approximately 6,000, and compared to 2024 — by 14,412 individual entrepreneurs.
Over four years of full-scale war, the number of entrepreneurs has increased by 194,000. The largest growth was recorded in 2023 — over 5%; in 2024, the rate slowed to 3.5%, and in 2025 — to 0.39%.
What this means for business
The introduction of one-time assistance and zero-interest loans indicates the state’s attempt to preserve jobs and support sole proprietors who provide basic services to the population.
For entrepreneurs, this is an opportunity to partially offset the costs of energy independence and stabilize their operations in the face of energy risks.
