[RTS] Subsidies and reliefs for entrepreneurs
Seven out of ten entrepreneurs in Serbia believe that financial assistance from the state for the purchase of equipment and materials would be crucial for easier starting a business, while 60% of them expect support through employment subsidies. More than half of the respondents point out that the reduction of various levies and taxes would significantly facilitate the work of small businesses.
The Executive Director of NALED, Violeta Jovanović, spoke about the results of the research on the needs and challenges that small businesses face, as well as about the measures that would contribute to their development, in the morning program of RTS.
- Our research showed that the biggest challenge is entering the world of business. More than 80% of them finance the start-up of the business from their own funds, and later reinvest the profit in order to enable the growth of the company - said Jovanović.
Almost half of the surveyed entrepreneurs (46%) cite complex tax administration as the biggest obstacle, while a third point to complicated labor and legal procedures.
- Bureaucracy represents a special burden for small businesses, which often have neither internal support systems nor advisors to guide them through the procedures. NALED recommends that the state free businessmen - especially micro and small - from unnecessary administrative obligations, so that they spend less time at the counters and more in developing their business - said the executive director of NALED.
More than 90% of respondents indicated that they needed an online platform with information about laws, regulations and available jobs. The first step in this direction was made during the establishment of the Entrepreneurship portal, which was developed by the Ministry of Economy in cooperation with NALED.
When it comes to business financing, about half of small businesses had experience with bank loans.
- The data show that many businesses are financed with loans, and some of them use funds from the Development Fund - mostly manufacturing companies that meet stricter conditions. In the service sector, where women are most often represented, programs of the National Employment Service are used the most. More mature businesses manage to get bank loans because they manage to meet demanding criteria.
Four fifths (82%) of businessmen have an account on eAdministration for business purposes. More than a third use their account, and in 45% of cases that account is used by an employee or an accountant.
- It is a novelty in business that offers a large number of opportunities to both citizens and businessmen, in order to make it easier for them to do business and enable them to complete part of their obligations to the state electronically - said Jovanović.
About half of small businesses recognize the support that wider society provides for women entrepreneurs, while a third believe that this type of support is lacking.
- Women are extremely motivated, but they lack support and customized programs. By nature, they are more cautious due to a greater sense of responsibility, and the environment does not offer them enough incentives. We are working to change that - concluded Jovanović.
