The entrepreneur trade-off
New Qonto research reveals that entrepreneurship is a lifestyle choice - but financial insecurity can be the price.
7 in 10
find starting & running a business hard
1 in 4
would value more predictable income above all else
84
%
plan to stay entrepreneurs into 2027
Insights from a survey of 1,600 European entrepreneurs across France, Spain, Italy & Germany, conducted by Appinio in November 2025.
“Made by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, Qonto’s built to lighten small businesses' daily stresses by offering a simpler way for them to take care of their finances.”
Motivations, stressors & support systems
Motivations
Support systems
Challenges
Financial stresses
1 in 3 lean on friends & family. 1 in 5 go it alone.
33% rely on friends and family on for financial and emotional support when running their business. That's the most-named support network.
Over 1 in 5 European independents are self-sufficient, not reaching for any external resources to help them.
35% are stuck in the client/cash flow loop
The #1 operational challenge for entrepreneurs is revenue - including client acquisition and retention, cash flow, and price-setting.
Only 2% say that isolation is their biggest current problem, despite 35% of entrepreneurs working alone.
Entrepreneurship is a choice, not an obligation
Most entrepreneurs are attracted to independence for positive reasons - chiefly better work‑life balance (31%), more creative freedom (31%), and passion pursuit (17%).
Few are looking for greater earning potential; just 4% mention having reached a financial ceiling in traditional employment as a driver.
1 in 3 say income's their biggest financial concern
The stress of ensuring a regular income is the main money-related worry for 30% of entrepreneurs. That's more than double any other issue.
Yet, only 12% identify planning growth investments as their key financial challenge and 9% name emergency fund-building.
Country highlights
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