Entrepreneurship barometer: how to read the 2026 signals

Updated April 4, 2026 - An entrepreneurship barometer only becomes useful when it helps you read the signals that matter: business creation volumes, sector momentum, the profile of founders and the overall confidence climate. Public data from Insee, the Bpifrance Creation Observatory and the General Directorate for Enterprises' entrepreneurship barometer help frame the environment. But interpreting these figures correctly — without reducing them to raw numbers — is where the real value lies.

To complement this topic, you can also read Create and structure your company, Business sectors and professions and Investing in an SME.

The first indicator everyone looks at is the number of new businesses. And the 2025-2026 figures confirm a momentum that shows no sign of weakening.

According to data published by Insee, France recorded 1,165,800 new business creations in 2025, a 5% increase compared to 2024 (1,111,200). This growth is part of a longer-term trend: the current level of business creation is now close to double the average observed during 2010-2017.

The start of 2026 confirms this trajectory. In January 2026, more than 115,000 new businesses were registered, a figure up 10% compared to the same month in 2025, according to the Bpifrance Creation Observatory. February 2026 continues with a moderate increase, confirming that the momentum is not slowing down (Insee, Rapid Information No. 64, March 2026).

This growth rests on two pillars. Micro-enterprises dominate the landscape with 717,200 registrations in 2024 (+7.3%), representing approximately 65% of the total. Companies (SAS, SARL, EURL) are also growing, with 284,600 creations (+5.4%). This duality is important: it shows that the desire to start a business is not limited to sole proprietorships. Project holders with structured plans, associates and financing stratégies remain numerous.

Beyond actual creations, the entrepreneurship barometer also measures the intention to start a business. And on this front, the signals are clear.

The entrepreneurial index published in the 2026 edition of the barometer stands at 350 points, a historically high level that reflects a persistent desire to take the plunge despite an uncertain economic context. Nearly 27% of French people are considering creating or taking over a business, a proportion that has remained stable for several years.

Among young people, the appetite is even stronger: 59% of 25-34 year olds and 49% of 18-24 year olds say they are considering an entrepreneurial project. One in three working adults is already involved in a project under development, meaning the pool of projects likely to materialise in the short term is considerable.

These intention figures should not be read as mere statistical curiosities. They inform us about the future competition that any new project will face and about the depth of the talent pool from which investors and partners can draw.

An entrepreneurship barometer that stopped at total volume would miss the essentials: sectoral distribution. Because not all creations are equal, and some areas of the market are significantly more dynamic than others.

In 2026, four sectors are concentrating most of the growth:

• Digital and technology services (+18%)
• Ecological transition and the green economy (+22%)
• Health, wellness and the silver economy (+15%)
• Business services and outsourcing

Digital and technology services — The French digital market reached €69.4 billion in 2024. Business creation in this sector is growing by +18%, driven by business software (SaaS), cybersecurity, process automation and specialised applications for small and medium businesses. This is the sector attracting the most young founders and professionals transitioning from tech careers.

Ecological transition and the green economy — This is the sector with the strongest growth, at +22% in new creations. Energy-efficient home renovation, renewable energy, the circular economy and sustainable mobility benefit from a favourable regulatory and incentive framework. Public support schemes (MaPrimeRénov', energy savings certificates) are structuring lasting demand.

Health, wellness and the silver economy — With +15% growth, this sector responds to a structural need: France will have approximately 30 million people aged 60 or over by 2030. Telemedicine, personal services, preventive coaching and senior-focused solutions are niches in full development.

Business services and outsourcing — SMEs are increasingly outsourcing their support functions: administrative management, HR, digital tools, accounting. This trend creates recurring opportunities for specialised, local structures.

Conversely, some traditional sectors such as physical retail are stagnating or declining, illustrating the need to adapt positioning to the real market.

The composition of project holders is changing rapidly, and this transformation is one of the richest insights from the entrepreneurship barometer.

The feminisation of entrepreneurship is progressing significantly. According to the 3rd edition of the barometer by the General Directorate for Enterprises and Bpifrance, women now account for nearly 40% of business creators. They are predominantly oriented towards projects with social and environmental impact, and their presence in the overall entrepreneurial chain reaches 28%. The 2026 women's barometer highlights real progress but also persistent obstacles, particularly in access to financing and networking.

Career transitions are another striking phenomenon. 18% of founders are 55 or older, reflecting a dynamic of experience and the capitalisation of skills acquired over a career. At the same time, 41% of French people are running or considering an entrepreneurial activity alongside salaried employment, a sign of increasingly hybrid and progressive entrepreneurship.

Motivations are also revealing: 72% of project holders cite the search for independence as their primary driver, while 65% attach great importance to the meaning of their project. Entrepreneurship is no longer just a response to economic necessity; it is increasingly a lifestyle choice.

Despite a generally favourable climate, obstacles remain numerous and well identified.

Financial insecurity is the number one barrier: 68% of aspiring entrepreneurs cite it as their main obstacle. This fear relates to access to income, social protection and the ability to fund the initial stages of the project. 37% believe that access to credit directly conditions the launch of their project.

Administrative complexity comes in second. 55% of French people want a simplification of procedures, and 39% of project holders consider administrative management as a determining barrier. Despite dématérialisation efforts (single window, online formalities), the mental load associated with reporting obligations remains a major issue.

Increased competition is a third factor for vigilance. With more than a million creations per year, standing out has become an absolute necessity. Nearly seven in ten businesses become economically active within two years of their creation, but this rate varies considerably depending on sector and legal status: 87% of companies versus 64% of micro-entrepreneurs.

The 3-year survival rate stands at 64%, slightly up, meaning that more than one in three new businesses does not survive beyond this period. This figure underscores the importance of structured support from the earliest stages.

The geography of entrepreneurship in France remains marked by strong disparities.

Île-de-France remains the most dynamic region in terms of volume, concentrating a significant share of registrations. This leadership is explained by the density of the economic fabric, the presence of investors and a mature support ecosystem.

However, other territories are progressing rapidly. Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur shows sustained growth, while overseas departments record a +10.9% increase in creations. These developments reflect pockets of growth where local initiative is intensifying, often driven by active regional policies and specific sectors.

For a project holder, the question of geographical choice is not reduced to the volume of creations. It must integrate the local cost of living, the presence of support networks, access to target markets and, where applicable, regional aid schemes.

An entrepreneurship barometer is a context tool, not a decision-making tool. It does not replace market research, a business plan or the financial analysis of your project. But it can enrich your thinking in several ways.

Validate the dynamics of your sector — If your sector is growing according to the barometer, that is a positive signal. But beware: strong growth also means increased competition. You need to verify that your value proposition is sufficiently differentiated.

Anticipate regulatory changes — Sectors with strong growth (energy transition, digital, health) are often those where regulations evolve most rapidly. The barometer can help you identify these areas of turbulence and prepare for them.

Assess the maturity of your local ecosystem — If your region shows low growth, that does not mean there are no opportunities. It may instead indicate a less saturated market, provided you verify the presence of real demand.

Structure your financing — If financial insecurity is the main barrier cited by 68% of founders, the answer is to secure at least 6 to 12 months of income before launch, or to structure a realistic cash flow plan with a chartered accountant.

Hayot Expertise insight: a barometer is useful for setting the scene. It never replaces the analysis of your project, your market and your business model. Macro data must always be confronted with the reality of your own situation.

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As of April 4, 2026, business creation signals remain at a historically high level. With more than 1.16 million creations in 2025, an entrepreneurial index at 350 points and a stable intention to start up at 27%, France confirms its entrepreneurial momentum. But this vitality masks contrasting realities: financial insecurity, administrative complexity, increased competition and a 3-year survival rate that remains imperfect at 64%.

The right use of an entrepreneurship barometer is to contextualise a decision, not to make it for you. Macroeconomic data illuminates the playing field; it is up to you, with your skills, your market and your model, to play the tune.

(Official sources: Insee — Business creations February 2026 and annual data 2024, Bpifrance Creation — Observatory January 2026, General Directorate for Enterprises — Women's Barometer 2026)