Ukrainian retail rebounds as sole proprietors drive sector growth

The figures showed that nearly 660,000 sole proprietors are currently operating in the Ukrainian retail sector, accounting for one out of every three registered individual entrepreneurships in the country.

The number of sole proprietors in Ukraine's retail sector has fluctuated significantly over the last few years, with business closures outstripping new openings in 2021, 2022, and 2025. The sharpest drop occurred in 2022 when the country saw a net loss of nearly 25,000 small retail businesses.

The retail sector rebounded over the first eight months of 2026, adding a net total of 8,196 new sole proprietorships as openings outpaced closures.

The majority of these business owners – about 208,000, or 32% – operate non-specialized retail stores. Another 159,900 (24%) run stalls or stands at local markets, while 107,400 (16%) sell outside traditional storefronts, primarily via the internet.

An additional 82,800 sole proprietors run specialized retail storefronts selling various goods, while 47,600 operate specialty shops dedicated to food, beverages, and tobacco products.

Regionally, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast leads the nation with 46,400 retail sole proprietors. It is closely followed by Odesa Oblast at 44,500, the capital city of Kyiv at 43,900, Lviv Oblast at 40,700, and Kharkiv Oblast at 40,600.

The rebound builds on momentum from early 2026, after new small business registrations surged and closures dropped significantly during the second quarter.