The number of sole proprietorships in Ukraine has increased by 11,000: where are the most businesses being opened?
20 April 13:24
In the first quarter of 2026, Ukraine saw a net increase in the number of sole proprietors. According to the Unified State Register, from January to March of this year, 11,297 more sole proprietorships were established than were closed. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing data from ” OpenDataBot.”
In total, during this period, 63,920 entrepreneurs started their own businesses, while 52,623 sole proprietorships ceased operations.
These figures indicate that despite the war, economic uncertainty, and a challenging security situation, Ukrainians continue to launch new businesses. New businesses are most actively opening in large cities and relatively safe regions, with the largest growth recorded in trade, education, and consulting.
How many sole proprietorships opened and closed in 2026
In January–March 2026 in Ukraine:
- 63,920 sole proprietorships were opened;
- 52,623 sole proprietorships closed;
- the net increase was 11,297 entrepreneurs.
For comparison, in 2025, 62,776 sole proprietorships opened and 106,199 closed during the same period. In 2024, 74,347 opened and 76,565 closed.
Thus, 2026 shows significantly better dynamics than the previous year, primarily due to a much lower number of closures.
In which sectors is the number of sole proprietorships growing the most
The largest increase in entrepreneurs in the first quarter of 2026 was recorded in sectors that allow for flexible work, lower startup costs, or online operations.
The largest number of new sole proprietorships was added in the following sectors:
Non-store retail
This refers to sales via social media, marketplaces, messaging apps, and online platforms. In this sector, the increase amounted to 2,527 entrepreneurs.
Education
In the education sector, the number of new entrepreneurs exceeded the number of closures by 1,899. This may indicate growing demand for private tutoring, courses, and educational services.
Consulting
In the consulting sector, the increase was 1,230 sole proprietorships. This is one of the sectors that remains in demand thanks to the growth of small businesses, digital services, and remote work.
Other Information Services
In this category, the increase was 1,033 entrepreneurs. This may include various information, digital, and service sectors.
Real estate rental
The real estate rental business also showed growth— 862 sole proprietorships.
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Where the number of sole proprietors decreased
Alongside growth in some sectors, a decline was recorded in others. The largest reduction occurred in traditional retail formats and certain service sectors.
The sharpest declines were seen in:
Retail trade at markets and from stalls
In this sector, the number of entrepreneurs decreased by 2,531 sole proprietors.
Non-specialized stores
Here, there was a decrease of 1,062 entrepreneurs.
Repair of household goods
The number of sole proprietors decreased by 291.
Freight transportation
This sector saw a decrease of 126 entrepreneurs.
Television broadcasting
A decrease of 125 sole proprietors.
These figures may indicate a gradual shift in entrepreneurial activity toward more flexible, digital, or less costly business models.
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In which regions are the most businesses being opened
Major economic centers and regions with more active domestic markets showed the strongest growth in the number of entrepreneurs.
Leaders in the growth of sole proprietorships:
- Kyiv — 1,826
- Lviv Region — 1,651
- Dnipropetrovsk region — 1,450
- Kyiv Oblast — 1,159
- Odesa Oblast — 775
These regions became the main hubs for the growth of new small businesses in Ukraine in early 2026.
Where the decline in entrepreneurs is greatest
As expected, the worst trends are observed in regions most affected by hostilities, proximity to the front lines, or occupation.
The largest decline in sole proprietorships was recorded in the following regions:
- Donetsk Oblast — -479
- Kherson Oblast — -224
- Sumy Oblast — -204
- Zaporizhzhia Oblast — -97
- Luhansk Oblast — -56
This trend is directly linked to security risks, infrastructure destruction, shrinking markets, and the forced displacement of people and businesses.
Why this matters
The increase of more than 11,000 sole proprietorships in the first quarter of 2026 is an important signal for the economy. It shows that small businesses in Ukraine continue to adapt to new conditions and seek niches for growth.
It is particularly telling that the greatest growth is occurring in e-commerce, education, and consulting. This means that Ukrainian entrepreneurs are increasingly choosing business models that do not require large investments in physical infrastructure and allow them to operate even in unstable conditions.
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