The grant under the “Own Business” program in 2026 amounts to from 100 thousand to 1 million hryvnias, depending on the category of the applicant, and the state for the first time allows applying for funds repeatedly. “Own Business” remains the main instrument of support for small entrepreneurship in Ukraine: over three years, almost 34 thousand entrepreneurs have received non-refundable financing, and at the end of 2025, the government rewritten the conditions – increased the amounts and expanded the circle of recipients. The updated edition has been in effect since January 1, 2026, so those who plan to open or develop a business this year should delve into the details before the program’s budget is exhausted.
How the “Own Business” program works
“Own Business” was launched in July 2022. It is implemented by the State Employment Service together with the Ministry of Economy. The mechanism looks consistent: an entrepreneur prepares a business plan, submits an application through the “Diya” application, a partner bank evaluates the project and conducts an interview, after which the State Employment Service makes a decision within fifteen working days. The approved funds are transferred to a separate grant account.
The money is non-refundable and not taxable. It is allowed to spend it on what is prescribed in the business plan – equipment, raw materials and materials, rent of premises, software. The state expects that the entrepreneur will officially work for at least three years and pay taxes. The chosen type of activity must remain outside the list of those prohibited by the program.
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How much can be received in 2026
The basic micro-grant for a person who is registered as an individual entrepreneur without hired employees now reaches 100 thousand hryvnias – last year the upper limit was 75 thousand. The creation of one workplace increases the amount to 200 thousand, two or more – up to 350 thousand hryvnias. A separate threshold applies to young people aged 18 to 25: such applicants can count on 200 thousand hryvnias even without the obligation to employ anyone else.
Entrepreneurs in the frontline regions receive increased limits. A business that opens or operates in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions can claim up to 300 thousand hryvnias for one workplace and up to 500 thousand for two or more.
The largest amounts are provided for the veteran category and families of defenders. Veterans, persons with disabilities due to the war, and members of their families can receive up to 500 thousand hryvnias, and families of fallen or missing defenders – up to one million hryvnias, provided that four workplaces are created. Increased limits also apply to projects in the field of preschool education and creative industries.
Who can apply for a grant
The general category is open to any citizen of Ukraine who already has the status of an individual entrepreneur or is ready to formalize it. The youth direction is designed for people aged 18 to 25 and allows you to do without creating workplaces – it is enough to register as an entrepreneur.
The veteran direction in 2026 has significantly expanded. In addition to the veterans themselves, persons with disabilities due to the war, and one of the spouses, the right to a grant for the first time was received by the parents of defenders and their adult children of working age. The recipient of the veteran grant chooses the implementation period themselves – three, five, or seven years. A separate line of support has been preserved for families of fallen and missing defenders. For veterans and displaced persons, other forms of state assistance are also available, the conditions of which should be checked separately.
What has changed this year
The main innovation is the repeated micro-grant. Previously, the principle of “one entrepreneur – one application” was in effect, but now those who have already received funding and fulfilled all obligations can apply again. The state is thus betting on entrepreneurs who have proven their ability to manage funds.
In addition to PrivatBank and Oschadbank, Sense Bank has been added to the list of partner banks – after technical integration, an application can be submitted through any of the three, which reduces queues for consideration. Another change concerns mobilized persons: the fulfillment of grant obligations is temporarily suspended for those who were captured or missing until their status is clarified. The new rules are enshrined in the Cabinet of Ministers’ decree No. 1401 of October 29, 2025.
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How to apply for a micro-grant through “Diia”
The path to financing begins with a business plan and registration of an application in “Diia”. The partner bank studies the project, checks its compliance with the conditions, and invites the applicant for an interview. The final decision is made by the State Employment Service within fifteen working days. In case of approval, the entrepreneur concludes an agreement on the provision of a micro-grant, opens a special account, and the funds are credited to it.
A free consultation on the program can be obtained at employment centers, offices of “Made in Ukraine”, and by contacting the contact center of the State Employment Service at 1518.
Why banks refuse a grant
The availability of the program does not mean automatic approval. A significant part of the applicants receives a refusal, and the reasons are mostly repeated.
- A weak business plan. The bank evaluates the economic logic of the project: where the money will come from, how the costs will be recouped, why this particular market was chosen, and how the entrepreneur takes into account the risks. A document without such a structure rarely passes the evaluation.
- Discrepancies between the application and the actual state of affairs. The data of the business plan must coincide with the financial reporting and the actual structure of the business, and any discrepancy alarms the evaluator.
- An unprepared interview. The decision is largely formed during a personal meeting with a bank representative, and an applicant who cannot clearly explain where the funds will go and what result is expected risks losing even with a high-quality plan on paper.
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