In this framework, the Association of Entrepreneurs of Argentina (ASEA), in collaboration with the Secretariat of Small and Medium Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Knowledge Economy (SePyME) and with the support of the Naumann Foundation, carried out the first National Survey of Entrepreneurs of Argentina. The survey had more than 3,000 responses and was carried out between September and October 2024.
The challenges facing the Argentine entrepreneurial universe
“The results of this survey not only show the challenges that entrepreneurs face, but also their determination to continue growing and promoting the development of the country. At ASEA, we want this information be the starting point to generate more concrete actions that strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and enhance its impact on the economy,” explained Ezequiel Calcarami, Entrepreneur/CEO of Grupo Simpli and co-founder of the Association, during the presentation of the study, in which he participated. Scopeamong other media outlets.
Among the conclusions of the work, which were summarized by the ASEA representatives in the presentation, it was detected that entrepreneurs they maintain three demands that they consider should be priorities for the different governments:
-Implement a tax policy for entrepreneurswith less pressure in the first years of a company’s life.
-Lower social costs and burdens and solve the problem of layoffs and the trial industry.
-Promote access to financingor in all stages of the life cycle of a company and types of company.
The entrepreneurs consulted also mentioned other concerns, such as simplify procedures and debureaucratize public administration or promote education focused on training digital and entrepreneurial skills.
The universe on which the survey was focused was job-creating companies with less than seven years of life. This cut is in accordance with the registry of the Secretariat of Small and Medium Enterprises, which It is home to 239,000 registered businesses, which employ 881,000 people throughout the country..
The majority of the ventures are concentrated in the province of Buenos Aires (30.5%), CABA (17.1%), Córdoba (11.4%) and Santa Fe (08.6%). However, when adjusting by inhabitants, CABA, La Pampa, Santa Fe and Córdoba lead the entrepreneurial density.
Optimistic expectations of entrepreneurs in sales, investments and employment
In qualitative aspects, the survey reflected an optimistic outlook regarding next year which, according to Ezequiel Calcarami told Ámbito, “It is fundamentally based on a change in expectations due to the macroeconomic context”.
50.6% of those surveyed said they had plans to increase your investmentswhile more than 56.3% said that your sales will increasen. On the other hand, 39.4% of entrepreneurs anticipated that will increase your staff of employees.
Meanwhile, bureaucracy was mentioned as another factor that affects the daily lives of entrepreneurs: 59.34% of those surveyed considered it difficult or very difficult to carry out procedures with the State.
Another point that entrepreneurs point out as a challenge is export: 73.31% said they consider it “difficult or very difficult”. Of those surveyed who said they had already made their first sale, only 9.8% declared they made sales abroad.
31.85% said that they do not currently make sales abroad but plan to do so, while the remaining 58.35% reported that does not make sales abroad nor does it plan to do so.
In this sense, Victoria Inés Barbagelata, executive director of ASEA, highlighted: “The results of this survey give us a clear and deep vision of the Argentine entrepreneurial ecosystem. This diagnosis, in addition to highlight the challenges what entrepreneurs face, also inspires us to continue promoting concrete actions that promote the creation of companies and the generation of employment.”
The report also shows that entrepreneurial activity in the country is characterized by the predominance of the services sector (39.6%) and commerce (36.3%). The rest is divided between industry, agricultural and construction sectors.
“Entrepreneurs are the protagonists of an unstoppable change and will play a fundamental role in the economic and social recovery of Argentina. Today we bring the concrete data that marks the challenges, the views and the needs of entrepreneurs throughout the country in access to financing, sales and exports, procedures with the State and job creation”said Patricio Gigli, Member of the ASEA Board of Directors and responsible for the initiative.
Regarding financing needs, Calcarami highlighted that “80 percent of entrepreneurs is financed with own resourceswhether from your savings or with the help of friends and family. Therefore, access to financing measures should be implemented to prevent bureaucracy or taxes stifle projects because failure has an economic and emotional impact on the social environment that is not always taken into account by those who decide economic policies.”
Source: Ambito
