In April–June 2026, 77,100 sole proprietorships were registered in Ukraine. This is the highest figure for any second quarter since 2021, according to an analysis by YC.Market.
Compared to the first three months of the year, registrations increased by 22%. Conversely, the number of sole proprietorships that closed decreased—from 51,200 to 48,900. The difference between new and closed sole proprietorships reached 28,200. This is nearly twice as much as in the first quarter. Simply put: for every 100 sole proprietorships that close, nearly 158 new ones are now opening.
Over the first half of the year, 140,300 sole proprietorships were registered, while 100,100 were closed. The net increase was 40,200. Last year during the same period, the situation was reversed: there were 15,600 more closures than registrations. The main reason for this change is not a surge in new sole proprietorships, but the fact that people are closing their businesses less frequently.
Analysts caution that it is too early to call this an entrepreneurial boom. Part of the increase was due to the usual spring uptick—in retail, cafes, agriculture, and tourism. Such spikes occur every year. However, in logistics, real estate, construction, and advertising, registrations increased not only compared to the previous quarter but also compared to the same period last year. This looks more like sustained demand rather than seasonality.
Kyiv Leads, While the Region Is Growing Faster
The ten regions with the highest number of registrations accounted for 51,500 new sole proprietorships. This represents two-thirds of all registrations nationwide.
The highest number of sole proprietorships was registered in Kyiv—9,500. At the same time, 6,200 were closed there. Compared to the previous quarter, registrations increased by 16%, but compared to the same period last year, they decreased slightly.
In the Kyiv region, the picture is different: 5,700 registrations, a 22% increase from the previous quarter and a 4% increase year-over-year. Closures decreased by 11%. It appears that businesses are gradually moving from the city to the region—to areas where new housing is being built and local services are being developed.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast ranks second, with 7,600 registrations. Here, there are both many new sole proprietorships and many closures: registrations increased by 18% compared to the previous quarter, but closures rose by 7% year-over-year.
Nearly 6,000 sole proprietorships were registered in the Odesa region—30% more than in the winter. This coincides with the start of the tourist season: in May, revenue from the tourist tax in the region rose by 15%. The situation is similar in the Lviv region, with 5,800 registrations. Several factors are at play here: tourists, internally displaced persons, relocated businesses, and the government’s “Own Business” support program.
The Kharkiv region showed stabilization—registrations increased by 28% compared to the previous quarter, while closures decreased by 6%. Poltava Oblast saw the largest growth among the top 10 regions—49%—but closures there also increased by 32%. Vinnytsia Oblast, however, grew without this side effect: registrations increased by 28%, while closures decreased by 17%. This is likely influenced by the region’s development as a logistics and manufacturing hub.
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Logistics is growing steadily, while trade is seasonal
The ten sectors with the highest number of registrations accounted for 84% of all new sole proprietorships in the quarter. However, the reasons for their growth vary.
As always, the retail sector had the most sole proprietorships—20,500, or a quarter of all registrations. Growth compared to the previous quarter was 35%. However, compared to the same period last year, registrations actually decreased by 12%. This suggests that the spring surge is simply a seasonal phenomenon, not a new trend. The picture is similar for cafes and restaurants: a 67% increase for the quarter, but only a 6% increase year-over-year. Tourism and agriculture also saw predominantly seasonal upticks—up 85% and 64%, respectively, compared to the winter months.
Transportation and logistics, however, are growing differently. In this sector, 7,400 sole proprietorships were registered—a 41% increase for the quarter and a 55% increase year-over-year. Meanwhile, the number of closures decreased. This is no longer a seasonal effect but a genuine expansion in demand—for delivery, freight transportation, and retail services.
Similar steady growth is seen in real estate transactions (up 45% year-over-year), advertising and marketing (up 35%), and construction (up 27%).
The IT sector, however, is moving in the opposite direction. Registrations fell by 8.7% compared to the previous quarter, while closures rose by 6.5%.
The number of couriers is growing, while the number of online sellers is declining
The most popular type of business among new sole proprietors is online mail-order sales. A total of 6,100 entrepreneurs registered in this category. However, this is 34% less than last year. It appears that the online sales market is becoming saturated—fewer and fewer new players are entering the market.
On the other hand, the courier industry is breaking records. 2,800 sole proprietors registered in this sector—five times more than a year ago. The picture that emerges is logical: there are fewer sellers, but more people delivering goods. Delivery is becoming a separate, large-scale business.
Restaurants accounted for 3,300 new sole proprietorships, a 70% increase for the quarter. Hair salons and beauty salons improved their numbers not through new registrations, but because they were closing down less frequently—38% fewer closures than before.
Programmers deserve a separate mention. This is the largest IT sector among sole proprietors, and for the first time, more entrepreneurs closed their businesses than opened them—by 506. Back in the winter, the figure was still positive. However, the IT sector as a whole remained in the black—other technology sectors offset the decline among programmers. The reason likely lies in changes in the labor market: there are fewer job openings for general developers, while demand is growing for specialists in defense technologies, equipment, and artificial intelligence.
Six out of ten new sole proprietorships are opened by women
Among the records where gender is specified, women registered 46,300 sole proprietorships, while men registered 30,700. This represents 60% and 40%, respectively. Compared to the previous quarter, both figures increased by roughly the same amount, so the ratio remained unchanged.
Over the entire half-year, women accounted for nearly 80% of the total increase in sole proprietorships where gender was specified. This is not a one-quarter fluke—women have outnumbered men among new entrepreneurs for several years in a row. In 2022, they accounted for 43%; in 2023, the figure rose to 56%; and since 2024, the share has remained at around 60%.
Researchers note that their conclusions are based solely on the first half of the year. In the second half of the year, the security situation will have the greatest impact on small businesses—it may either curb entrepreneurial activity or, conversely, change its structure.
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