Business is recovering: the number of individual entrepreneurs in Ukraine is increasing in 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, Ukraine recorded an increase in the number of individual entrepreneurs. According to Opendatabot, the number of new businesses exceeded the number of closed ones by 11,297.

In total, from January to March, 63,920 Ukrainians registered their own business, while 52,623 entrepreneurs ceased their activities.

Online trade is among the leaders

The largest number of new individual entrepreneurs appeared in the field of retail trade outside stores – primarily online sales through social networks and marketplaces (+2,527).

Also showing active growth were:

education (+1,899),

consulting (+1,230),

information services (+1,033),

real estate rental (+862).

These areas reflect the adaptation of business to the digital economy and new market needs.

Where are there fewer entrepreneurs

At the same time, some traditional sectors are showing a decline. The largest reductions were recorded in:

market and stall trade (-2,531),
non-specialized stores (-1,062),
repair of household goods (-291),
freight transportation (-126),
television broadcasting (-125).

This indicates structural changes in the economy and a gradual transition to new business formats.

Regional breakdown

Kyiv became the leader in the growth of entrepreneurs — +1,826 new individual entrepreneurs. Also in the top:

Lviv region (+1,651),
Dnipropetrovsk region (+1,450),
Kyiv region (+1,159),
Odesa region (+775).

Instead, the decline is observed mainly in frontline regions – in particular in Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy, Zaporizhia and Luhansk regions.

Market Trends

The growth in the number of individual entrepreneurs indicates a gradual recovery of economic activity even in war conditions. Ukrainians are increasingly choosing entrepreneurship as a way to adapt to new realities, and digital trends are becoming key drivers of this process.