Image: OÖN
No matter how different the sectors may be, the problems of these more than 350,000 “lone wolves” are always similar, according to the WKÖ’s latest EPU mood barometer.
Unsurprisingly, it is the issues of taxes and bureaucracy that are causing them problems. Nevertheless, 79 percent of those surveyed would become self-employed again, as David Pfarrhofer from the Market opinion research institute said in an interview.
Read on the topic:
- One-person company: “Self-realization is becoming increasingly important” [OÖNplus]
- Ambitious, positive: How business people look to 2024 [OÖNplus]
- More business registrations in 2023 than in previous years
The EPU need more leeway and this requires a relief pact, noted WKÖ Deputy General Secretary Mariana Kühnel. 74 percent of those surveyed expect the government to improve the small business flat rate in income tax. And 73 percent are in favor of raising the GWG limit for one-off depreciation of assets from currently 1,000 euros. The WKÖ is calling for an increase to 1,500 euros. 73 percent are also in favor of improving the VAT regulations for small businesses.
Call for the abolition of petty taxes
The WKÖ also calls for the abolition of petty taxes, which bring little benefit to the state but represent a lot of bureaucratic effort, especially for EPU. Kühnel also sees a need for action when it comes to social security for sole proprietors. Companies should be entitled to unemployment benefits earlier, said Kühnel.
86 percent of the EPU who have claimed WKÖ services in recent months are satisfied with the representation of interests. But here too, there is “still room for improvement,” as Kühnel emphasized. The aim is to help one-person companies with a wide range of services. This includes, for example, a “break-even calculator” to calculate the minimum turnover from which an employee can be profitable. A social security and tax calculator should provide an overview of the expected payments and ensure better planning.
Desire for digital training and further education
With the EPU portal www.epu.wko.at, the WKÖ offers its own platform for this group of people, said Lukas Sprenger, Federal Managing Director of the Young Economy. The desire for digital training and further education, which 43 percent of the EPU surveyed expressed, can also be met with the platform https://wise-up.at/fuer-epu/ with more than 15,000 digital courses, added Sprenger.
It is primarily certain specialist groups that have a high proportion of EPU among their members: This includes, for example, personal advice and support. Of the 65,860 companies here, 98.1 percent are EPU, i.e. self-employed people who work as home help or 24-hour care. There is also information here in several languages to help non-German-speaking members. In direct sales, the EPU share is 93.5 percent. But it is also over 80 percent for arts and crafts, professional photographers and personal service providers as well as chiropodists, cosmeticians and masseurs, according to the chamber’s records.
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