According to Opendatabot, from January to September 2026 more than 222,000 individual entrepreneurs (sole proprietors) were registered in Ukraine, with new registrations this year exceeding closures by 66,000.
Regional distribution of FOP registrations in January–September 2026
The largest number of new registrations was in Kyiv — 27,300, followed by the Dnipro region — 22,300, Lviv region — 17,200, Odesa region — 16,700 and Kyiv region — 16,500.
The statistics also show that registrations do not reflect profitability: the average lifespan of an FOP in Ukraine is about 2.4 years, so evaluating a niche requires taking into account costs, repeat sales and seasonality.
Most popular business sectors among new FOPs
More than one in four new FOPs operate in retail trade — 60,300 registrations. The top five sectors also include computer programming — 16,700; wholesale trade — 16,600; education — 10,700; and food and beverage services — 10,700.
Regional communities influenced the directions of openings: relatively safe western and central regions and certain frontline-adjacent cities generated demand focused on reconstruction and business autonomy.
Cafés and mini-bakeries: start-up conditions, costs and state support
The “To Go” format, a mini-bakery or takeaway food outlet is in demand due to steady demand for coffee and pastries, small required space and the ability to test a location without launching a full-scale restaurant. To start you need premises with footfall, coffee or kitchen equipment (rental or purchase), suppliers, staff and compliance with sanitary requirements and food legislation, in particular HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
Small premises are easier to provide with backup power, for example a generator, which allows operation during blackouts. The entry threshold varies depending on the format — kiosk, food truck, service window or a full café — and can range from a few thousand dollars.
The payback period for small outlets is estimated at 6–10 months, with potential monthly profit from 30,000 to 80,000 UAH, provided a stable sales volume is achieved. The state offers the grant «Vlasna sprava», which can cover up to 300,000 UAH for purchasing equipment, autonomy or covering rent.
For the processing industry there is the programme «yeRobota», where one can get a start-up grant of up to 500,000 UAH or more. At the start, state support usually allows creation of 1–2 jobs; specific amounts and conditions depend on the programme and the project.
Risks, locations and regional specifics
Risks include poor location choice, high rent, product write-offs and staff costs. Preliminary study of pedestrian traffic is key to assessing a point’s potential.
In large cities such as Kyiv or Lviv the market may be saturated, so businesses have to seek a unique concept or focus on a specific niche, for example breakfasts or specialised baked goods.
