Almost three-quarters of small entrepreneurs in Serbia believe that financial support from the state for purchasing equipment and materials is crucial for easier business startup, while 60% emphasize the importance of subsidies for employment. Over half of respondents also expect reductions in parafiscal levies, lower labor costs, and more efficient digital services. These are the main findings from the survey “Attitudes of Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs in Serbia,” conducted by Ipsos in cooperation with NALED as part of the “Strong and Important” project supported by the British Embassy.
Ana Antic, senior manager at Ipsos, explained that administrative challenges related to tax procedures and certificates are the biggest obstacles for nearly half of entrepreneurs. Other significant issues include complex labor laws and parafiscal burdens. Most businesses (85%) start with personal funds, and for further growth, entrepreneurs primarily rely on their own profits (64%).
In response to these challenges, NALED recently established the Council for Small Businesses — a permanent advisory body bringing together entrepreneurs, institutional representatives, and experts. Its goal is to collaboratively develop recommendations, propose concrete solutions, and improve the business environment for small enterprises.
Jelena Bojović, NALED’s program director, stated that entrepreneurs are the backbone of the economy but often lack systemic support. The council aims to empower entrepreneurs by involving them early in dialogue, ensuring their voices are heard before they face major obstacles. The focus is on making it easier for entrepreneurs to access the information, regulations, and support they truly need.
The survey also revealed that entrepreneurs expect the council to provide information on regulations (31%) and reduce the tax burden (27%). Most entrepreneurs (91%) rely on accountants for guidance, while women entrepreneurs more frequently use informal sources (49%). Almost all respondents (96%) support creating a free online platform with business information.
Marija Tasić, founder of the law firm Tasić & Partners, described herself as a typical entrepreneur according to the survey results. She highlighted the need to simplify entrepreneurs’ positions and said digitization can play a major role. That is why her team launched the Mybiznest startup two years ago, specifically designed to support entrepreneurs and micro and small businesses.
While half of small business owners recognize that society offers support to women entrepreneurs, one-third feel that this support is still seriously lacking. About 70% believe women are less likely to take the entrepreneurial step. One notable example of local support is in Pirot, where the National Employment Service branch has been running special programs to encourage female entrepreneurship for years. Suzana Đorđević, the branch director, shared concrete results:
“In the past two years, we supported 47 women who started or expanded their businesses. In 2025, we allocated 2.5 million dinars for new beneficiaries. We understand how vital initial support is — we want it to become the norm, not the exception.”
