Open a small business in Belarus

Photo is illustrative, source: pixabay. om

I will try to list what you can and must calculate and read when opening a small retail business in Belarus. After all, the majority starts things like that.

Activity definition

If you intend to engage not in self-expression, but in business, then to choose the type of activity you will need to consistently answer four questions:

What is in demand on the market now? It is advisable to concretize the issue, to limit it to a certain territory or sphere.
What can I do that is in demand?
Who and how is already doing this business?
Is there a free niche on the market?

To answer the last question, you need to understand the situation in detail. It is impossible to give advice on studying any market, because. everywhere has its own specifics. However, the basic information about the retail business can usually be obtained by observing it from the consumer's point of view - what is displayed, what is more often asked and bought.

In most situations, a business is worth starting if:

you have a competitive advantage over those who already operate on the market, you can offer a better or cheaper product;
there are free niches on the market, demand is not satisfied until end, some consumers will go to a new seller.

Obtaining Permits

Having decided on the direction of activity, all permits and licenses should be obtained from the state.

You can understand how the state sees your activities in the National Classifier OKRB 005-2021.

An example for beginners: retail trade in products (ice cream, beer, etc.) in a sealed package is subject to code 47, the same beer, ice cream, etc. in cups will go according to code 56, like public catering, with other requirements and regulatory documents.

Obtaining permission for one activity and doing another means:

The prerequisites for interest in entrepreneurship are based on the personality traits of a person. Such people show a pronounced desire for independence, independence, a desire for success and a willingness to rely on their own abilities, strengths and skills. This cannot be prevented by any restrictions of a legislative or socio-political nature. A striking example of this is the economy of the Soviet Union, where private property was treated in a special way, as if it did not exist. Even in such harsh conditions, there were manifestations of entrepreneurial activity both in a permitted form in different periods, and in an underground one. Over the years, in the USSR there were artels, cooperatives and other organizations that operated in the legislative field and carried clearly expressed features of entrepreneurship. In addition, there were shop workers. They can be perceived as those who sought to illegally enrich themselves, but the fact that such people had all the hallmarks of an entrepreneur cannot be denied.

After the collapse of the Union and its transformation into a number of independent states that were once republics of the USSR, entrepreneurial activity began to slowly come out of the shadows. And people who had previously been forced to "stifle" their craving for entrepreneurship were able to realize themselves and start their own business.

Naturally, each of the republics of the former Soviet Union had its own path. And small business in each of them developed according to the algorithm, which was determined by the characteristic features of the national economic and social policy, legislation, and other criteria inherent in this or that state. Some of them, due to historical circumstances, very quickly overcame the transition period, and small business in these countries has already begun to closely resemble the Western model. Here it is worth remembering the Baltics. Some today are actively pursuing reforms so that small business truly becomes that institution that brings income to the country's budget akin to what developed countries receive. Some are pursuing a cautiously moderate policy and slowly overcome the transition period from an authoritarian economy, in which the state regulates relations, to a market one. But practically all the newly formed states, the heirs of the USSR, today perceive small business as a full-fledged component of the economy, a legal activity that makes it possible to make a profit on a legal basis.

Therefore, today every inhabitant of the post-Soviet space, or rather, the overwhelming number of ex-republics, can register as a business entity, start or open his own cafe or shop on completely legal grounds, work in the legal field and be the owner a private enterprise.

Achievements of the post-Soviet states: Belarus in figures and ratings

According to experts, the former USSR countries have chosen different paths for further development and embody different economic models. The rate on state capitalism is clearly traced, where the state sector in the economy is dominant (in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Belarus), to a lesser extent, this system is used in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In these countries, private business accounts for a relatively smaller share of production than the public sector. However, it does exist, and progress towards its increase is observed in many states.

This is largely facilitated by the efforts of their governments to create a comfortable atmosphere for opening and running medium and small businesses. Naturally, in some states more attention is paid to this issue, in some - less. Belarus is distinguished by several characteristic features of its position in the development of the business environment. International ratings, indicators determined by a special group of the World Bank, as well as data from surveys of domestic entrepreneurs themselves will tell about them most clearly.

According to reports prepared by the World Bank, which take into account various factors that exist in a particular country, Belarus is in 44th place out of 189 in terms of ease of doing business. But this position is average, and the rating itself consists of various criteria, where Belarus has significant differences. For example, in terms of the ease of registration of enterprises and property, the country takes high positions - 12th and 7th. But in terms of taxation, the ability to connect the facility to the power supply system and obtain loans, the picture is somewhat different. According to these indicators, Belarus ranks 63rd, 89th and 109th, respectively.

Surveys of entrepreneurs have repeatedly shown that almost half of businessmen assess their position as stable, although another indicator may be alarming. More than 30% of the respondents said that the economic condition of their companies and projects is more in the position of “below average”. On the other hand, in recent years, the level of competition in the country has seriously increased, the Belarusian small business is developing not only traditional trade and production, but also consumer services for the population, printing, tourism, consulting, education. Perhaps this factor initiates such an assessment.

The main obstacles and difficulties, in the opinion of entrepreneurs themselves, reflected in the surveys, are external factors that they cannot influence:

lack of a transparent, complete and well-developed legal framework;
low level of provision with borrowed money (loans) and investment funds;
insufficient state support.

Difficulties are also caused by internal factors, the solution of which depends on the businessmen themselves:

it is difficult to find a professional team, experienced managers, trained personnel;
lack of information and the necessary skills of an entrepreneur often does not allow to foresee the market situation and determine the degree of competitiveness of products;
inadequate knowledge of the legislation, which sometimes impedes working in the legal field and reduces the ability to protect one's rights in cases of pressure from regulatory authorities;
lack of practical skills and knowledge to implement the process of delegating authority to employees , "Tying" business decisions to the owner, which reduces the efficiency of the company or project.

Belarus is not much different from other states that were formed on the ruins of developed socialism. The same difficulties, the same ideas, the same forms of private business and entrepreneurial activity, but at the same time an excellent geographical location and nature, an increase in the number of operating companies, including foreign representations, the volume of external orders.

The state influence is more pronounced, the balanced mentality of the population is noticeable, there is a striving for information technology and positive dynamics of knowledge and experience in almost all spheres of activity.

About work in general

Work in Belarus has always been held in high esteem, the crafts have been especially developed for a long time. New times, historical sites, natural environment and entrepreneurial spirit have made possible the development of various options for private business, with little or no initial investment. The Internet has also brought a new topic - how to make money fast. In Belarus, they reacted to this with their own understanding, preserving their national characteristics.

Everything is standard in this country: work, as it should be, work book, workplace, working hours and the chance to get a pension. Everything is official and no initial investment. There are only fewer unskilled jobs and it is much more difficult to get a job. Job search costs are usually low, but not always justified.

A characteristic feature has developed in recent years: the non-state sector is very reluctant to officially recruit for labor, many employers are trying to minimize their costs and taxes. The question of how to make money in Belarus comes down more to something else - how to keep a job. You can move to Belarus if things are bad in Russia. There is work here, was and will be for those who want to work.

About companies

State-owned enterprises that are successfully developing try to save on wages, and those that can barely make ends meet pay the minimum. A characteristic feature of almost any Belarusian employer is to demand from the employee only what is entrusted, nothing superfluous, but at the same time the volume and content of the work does not always correspond to the agreed job responsibilities.

The rapid development of the IT sector has led to an increase in demand for local qualified developers. It has become profitable to carry out programming orders. Making money on the Internet in Belarus has actually become a reality. If we assume that the presence of a computer, smartphone and Internet access is the norm, then programmers can do business with little or no initial investment. A Belarusian programmer is a brand, like the Belarus tractor used to be.

A characteristic socio-economic aspect and legacy of the past: a large raw material potential, many companies in the computing industry and higher educational institutions, which increasingly direct educational programs to the field of information technology. At the same time, educational institutions try to meet the needs of operating companies (not only residents), which are primarily interested in how to make money in Belarus.

The advantage of an IT specialty is that you can work for a foreign business without leaving the country. In outsourcing, Belarusian programmers earn quite comparable to the average European money.

Below you will find out what kind of business is currently relevant in Belarus. Areas that bring good income.

First of all, you must make the right choice with the choice of activities that will begin to enrich you.

First of all, we want to tell you about trade in goods, products, etc. If you have decided to develop in the trade, sell goods, then it is better to open your own store. in Belarus involves a constant study of consumer demand and the compilation of a list of the most popular goods.

It is also necessary to carefully study (analyze) all competitors, this is important!

After that, at first, you can rent a room on the territory of which the products will be sold. Purchase a product, calculate the cost at which you are going to sell. For good sales, don't forget about advertising. Allocate a separate budget for this.

Best Value Stores:

Construction business

Large investments

If your financial capabilities permit, then you can engage in the construction of residential real estate. Today, thousands of families are in need of comfortable and cozy housing. If you rent out your own apartment holdings, then you will have a source of passive income, which can increase over time. This is the most profitable business in Belarus, but the investments are big here.

In order to intensify your rental activities, you don't even need a working staff. You can do everything yourself.

With minimal investment

Which do not allow you to purchase and then rent out real estate, there is an alternative option that brings a solid profit.

You can organize your business in the service sector and engage in repair and finishing work. For a better performance of your work, it is best to “recruit” a friend or like-minded person. He must have knowledge, skills in apartment renovation and a great desire to work tirelessly for a living. This is a pretty profitable business to start in Belarus.

Achievements of the post-Soviet states: Belarus in figures and ratings

The main obstacles and difficulties, in the opinion of entrepreneurs themselves, reflected in the surveys, are external factors that they cannot influence:

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