Nearly three-quarters of small entrepreneurs in Serbia believe that financial support from the government for purchasing equipment and materials is crucial for an easier start to their business, while 60% highlight the importance of employment subsidies. Over half expect a reduction in parafiscal charges, lower labor costs, and more efficient digital services.
This is according to a survey titled “Attitudes of Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs in Serbia,” conducted by Ipsos in cooperation with NALED, supported by the British Embassy.
Administrative burdens related to tax paperwork and certificates pose the biggest challenge for nearly half of entrepreneurs, followed by complex labor regulations and parafiscal charges. Most businesses (85%) start from personal funds, and for further development, they primarily rely on their own profits (64%).
In response, NALED recently established the Small Business Council, a permanent advisory body gathering small business owners, institutional representatives, and experts to jointly shape recommendations, propose concrete solutions, and improve the business environment for small companies.
Entrepreneurs expect the Council to provide better information about regulations (31%) and to reduce tax burdens (27%). Most still rely on accountants (91%), while women entrepreneurs also frequently use informal sources (49%). Almost all respondents (96%) support the idea of a free online platform for information sharing.
Marija Tasić, founder of the legal firm Tasić & Partners, who identifies as a typical entrepreneur according to the survey, emphasized that digitalization can greatly ease entrepreneurs’ challenges. Her team founded the startup Mybiznest two years ago, designed specifically to support entrepreneurs and micro and small businesses.
While half of small businesses recognize societal support for women wanting to start businesses, one-third believe that such support remains seriously insufficient. Seven out of ten businesspeople think women are less likely to take the entrepreneurial step.
A positive example of local support is in Pirot, where the branch of the National Employment Service has for years implemented special programs to encourage female entrepreneurship. Suzana Đorđević, director of the branch, shared concrete results: in the past two years, 47 women have been supported in starting or growing their businesses, with 2.5 million dinars allocated in 2025 for new beneficiaries. She emphasized the importance of early assistance and the goal of making such support a regular practice rather than an exception.
