Reports are growing, funding is falling: How the structure of state support for business has changed in Russia
In the first six months of 2026, the total amount of state financial support for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia decreased by 13,7%. However, the number of entrepreneurs formally receiving state assistance increased by 10,8%.
Growing number of reports amid budget cuts
According to a study by the Rodionoff Group consulting agency, 227,7 businesses received government support—including guarantees, financial, and non-financial services—over the past six months. The total amount received by them amounted to 142,3 billion rubles. By comparison, this figure for the same period last year was 164,9 billion rubles.
The main trend of the past six months was the redistribution of state support within businesses. Amid growing coverage of non-financial services—for example, consulting and training—the number of recipients of assistance among individual entrepreneurs increased by 29%, and among legal entities by 5,4%.
At the same time, the self-employed segment plunged by 20%, simultaneously facing a sharp decline in cash flow. Specifically, direct government support for them decreased by 18,7%, and grants by 37%.
Decline in grant issuance and rising leasing costs
Consequently, the decline in financial assistance affected the entire market. Grants to businesses fell by 16,2% overall, while social contracts fell by 14,5%.
The only segment of government support to show growth in monetary terms was leasing. However, experts point out that this is not due to increased accessibility of the service, but rather to the increased cost of the projects themselves. For example, the average transaction value increased from 8,69 to 9,87 million rubles, while the number of recipients decreased from 178 to 169 companies.
Real sentiments of entrepreneurs
Ultimately, the sentiments of entrepreneurs themselves are becoming a clear reflection of this growth on paper. A video of a carrier giving away leased equipment due to unprofitability has gained popularity on social media:
"I leased this car a year and a half ago to work and earn money... And now everything's gone wrong: thanks to the fuel situation, the economic situation in the country, and most importantly, this brutal support for small and medium-sized businesses. I don't even understand why I'm even trying to run a business when there's such 'support'. So, I decided to lease it back."
