Insee Première · September 2025 · n° 2069

Micro‑entrepreneurs registered in 2018: less than three out of ten were still active under this regime five years later

28% of micro‑entrepreneurs (a specific status for sole proprietors) who registered in 2018 were still active five years after their registration. In fact, among the 70% who actually launched their business in the first two years, 39% were still operating five years later. Sustainability was the highest in the human health and industry sectors, and the lowest in management consulting, trade and delivery. Sustainability chances increased with the age of the micro‑entrepreneur and the resources they invested at start-up. 34% of women were still active under this tax system five years after, 10 points more than men.

Average turnover for micro-entrepreneurs still active in 2023 was 20,000 euros. The health crisis did not have a net impact on the sustainability of micro‑entrepreneurs in this cohort. However, it had an impact on their turnover, which decreased during this period for
two-thirds of those still active at the end of 2021.

9% of micro-entrepreneurs still active in 2023 worked with digital networking platforms, compared with 14% in the year of their registration.