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this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2026
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Arguably the main problem is national taxes and social contributions. It's extremely expensive to operate and disproportionately affects small business. Getting started isn't really the problem, staying afloat is. I suspect lowering the entry barriers will largely result in more insolvencies.
I can only speak for Germany from experience but it really feels like everything you get, you don't get. It's just working for the tax department with extra steps and terrible pay.
A small shop will turnover about 30k per month, 10k will go on taxes and non-optional non-taxes like GEMA, GEZ, IHK, BGN, etc. 3 full time staff will absorb 10k in minimum wages and social contributions. The remaining 10k have to cover 2k rent, 1k insurances, stock purchases, packaging purchases, advertising, legal and administrative services, energy costs, some liquidity savings (machines need service, sometimes replacing). There's nothing left for the owner-operator to live off and they also have rents, social security, energy and taxes to pay. It's not really viable to do a small business unless it's something with huge value addition to beat the curve.
The administrative start up cost isn't the hurdle, it's macro economics. The money is sucked out of small enterprises because the big corporations aren't taxable, they have the resources and political backing to avoid being taxed the same way.
Its better to work a bullshit job.
They should get rid of the income tax and just have a wealth tax. And also a national gains tax for companies: you make money in the country = you pay tax on that money in the country you made it. Then companies like Goolag and Macroslop can't just send the money to another country and pay taxes there.
But social contributions... nah. That has to stay. That's definitely worth it. Just because you're a small business doesn't mean your employees should work in precarious conditions.
The data is very clear. See in particular in terms of how people need to be relieved:
In that order. Note that lower social contributions can (and should) just be balanced via the federal budget.
But since people vote for parties that will never do this and all but ignore parties that would, people will continue to get screwed.
I'm not suggesting social contributions should go. But that's the cost of doing business and as such a lot of smaller enterprises simply can't afford to do business. It becomes a bigger money game. Which I think is problematic.