Entrepreneurship Report 2025: entrepreneurship and SMEs in Spain

Introduction

We surveyed over 1,500 entrepreneurs and freelancers across Spain to understand the situation and trends of entrepreneurship in 2025. The result is a comprehensive analysis that reveals both the strengths and the remaining challenges of the Spanish business landscape.

Key takeaways

The Entrepreneurship Report 2025 yields three major conclusions:

1. SMEs are the backbone of the Spanish economy, but they continue to face structural challenges that limit their growth.
2. There is a generational gap in the motivations and vision between entrepreneurs and freelancers of different ages.
3. Digitalization, internationalization, and innovation are the keys to long-term survival and success.

SMEs, the engine of the Spanish economy

Small and medium-sized enterprises form the fundamental pillar of the productive fabric in Spain:

• They make up 99.8% of all businesses in the country.
• They generate 72% of private employment.
• They contribute 65% of GDP.

Despite their importance, Spanish SMEs continue to face significant obstacles in terms of funding, regulation, and access to international markets.

Entrepreneur profile in 2025

The typical profile of a Spanish entrepreneur remains a man between 31 and 43 years old, although diversity is progressively increasing.

Motivations by age

The motivations for entrepreneurship vary considerably by generation:

• Young entrepreneurs (under 30): seek to generate social impact, develop purpose-driven projects, and work in sectors aligned with their values.
• Older entrepreneurs (over 40): prioritize professional autonomy, financial stability, and independence in decision-making.

Keys to business survival

The report identifies three factors that can double the 5-year survival probability of an SME:

Digitalization

96% of entrepreneurs surveyed use digital tools in their daily operations. However, the impact of digitalization is uneven depending on company size: micro-enterprises and freelancers show significantly lower levels of technology adoption than larger SMEs.

Internationalization

Opening up to international markets remains a pending challenge for most Spanish SMEs. Companies that have made the leap abroad show notably higher growth rates and resilience.

Innovation

A significant innovation gap persists in the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem. Companies that invest in R&D and new business models have a clear competitive advantage, but average innovation investment remains below the European average.

Conclusions

The Entrepreneurship Report 2025 confirms that entrepreneurship in Spain is in good health, but needs a decisive push in digitalization, internationalization, and innovation to consolidate its role as the country's economic engine. The generational gap in motivations represents an opportunity: combining the social purpose of young entrepreneurs with the experience and stability of seasoned ones may be the formula for success.