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CheckoutEntrepreneur's Day in Ukraine 2026: History, Facts and Records
6 September 2026
Entrepreneur's Day in Ukraine: history, facts and records
Every year on the first Sunday of September, Ukraine honours the people who create jobs, pay taxes and keep the economy running through the hardest of times. N-SHOES — an online shoe store operating since 15 August 2009 — congratulates fellow business owners and offers a 20% discount across the entire catalogue.
6 Septemberthe date in 2026
No. 1110/98Presidential Decree of 05.10.1998
28 yearsof the holiday in 2026
When Entrepreneur's Day is celebrated
Entrepreneur's Day is a professional holiday with a moving date: it always falls on the first Sunday of September, so the exact day changes every year. In 2026 it is Sunday, 6 September. The day is not a public holiday and does not shift the working week, yet it is traditionally marked by local producer fairs, business forums, awards from chambers of commerce and retail promotions across the country.
Official name
Entrepreneur's Day (Den' pidpryiemtsia)
Date
First Sunday of September (6 September in 2026)
Legal basis
Decree of the President of Ukraine "On Entrepreneur's Day" of 5 October 1998, No. 1110/98
Signed by
President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma
Status
Professional holiday; not a non-working day
Who is celebrated
Sole proprietors (FOP), company owners and founders, freelancers, artisans, farmers, IT professionals, retailers
The history of the holiday and of Ukrainian entrepreneurship
The holiday appeared at the height of economic reform, when the state acknowledged at the highest level that private initiative is not merely trade but an engine of change that solves social and economic problems and shapes the national economy. That wording is written into the decree itself. Below are the milestones that built today's legal environment for business.
1991
Private initiative made legal
On 7 February 1991 the Law "On Entrepreneurship" No. 698-XII was adopted — the first act that allowed citizens to run a business systematically. The Law "On Enterprises" followed the same year.
1998
The simplified tax system
On 3 July 1998, Decree No. 727/98 introduced the simplified system of taxation, accounting and reporting — the ancestor of today's single tax. It is what turned the sole-proprietor status into a mass instrument for micro business.
1998
The holiday is established
On 5 October 1998, Presidential Decree No. 1110/98 "On Entrepreneur's Day" was signed. The date was fixed to the first Sunday of September — the start of the business season after summer.
2004
The Commercial Code
The Commercial Code of Ukraine (No. 436-IV of 16.01.2003) entered into force on 1 January 2004 and remained the baseline document for business entities for more than two decades.
2011
Single tax groups
The simplified system moved into the Tax Code of Ukraine, introducing the division of single-tax payers into groups — a framework still in force that shapes the daily economics of retail.
2020
The digital state
Sole-proprietor registration moves online: filing documents, changing activity codes and closing a business become available in the Diia app, with training and advisory services on the Diia.Business portal.
2022
Business during the full-scale war
The state launches start-up grants under the eRobota programme, relocation support for companies leaving front-line regions, and compensation for displaced production. Small business becomes a tool of economic resilience.
2025
The Commercial Code is repealed
On 28 August 2025 the Commercial Code of Ukraine ceased to be in force under Law No. 4196-IX of 09.01.2025. Business activity is now governed by the Civil Code and special laws, with a transition period set for certain legal forms.
2026
The holiday in a new reality
On 6 September 2026 Entrepreneur's Day is celebrated against an all-time high in the number of registered sole proprietors — despite war, mobilisation and shelling.
Records and figures: Ukrainian entrepreneurship in 2026
Recent statistics contradict the intuitive assumption that war can only destroy a business environment. After the decline of 2024, registrations returned to a positive balance as early as late 2025, and the first half of 2026 confirmed the recovery.
2,224,104active sole proprietors
As of 12 August 2026 — an all-time high since independence.
+47,597growth since the start of 2026
The register held 2,176,507 entrepreneurs in January.
+234,918since the invasion began
Net growth over the years of the full-scale war.
141,472new registrations in H1 2026
Against 102,258 closures — a net gain of more than 39,000.
−36%fewer business closures
The positive trend came from fewer closures rather than more registrations.
3,000–5,000new entrepreneurs monthly
The average pace of growth of the register in 2026.
Data sources: Opendatabot analytics based on the Unified State Register, August 2026.
Eight facts about Entrepreneur's Day
The date moves every year
Unlike fixed holidays, this one floats: 6 September in 2026, a different Sunday next year. Communities use the flexibility to schedule fairs on Saturday and conferences on Monday.
The same age as the simplified tax system
1998 gave business two documents: the single tax in July and the holiday itself in October — just three months apart.
The wording of the decree
Its preamble refers explicitly to the role of entrepreneurship in carrying out economic reform, solving social and economic problems, and building the national economy.
Not a day off
The holiday is unofficial: it is not on the list of non-working days, does not shift the working week and does not affect store opening hours.
Leading regions
Kyiv and the Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa regions lead by the number of new registrations in 2026.
Women in IT entrepreneurship
The share of women among new sole-proprietor registrations in IT rose from 38% in 2022 to 58% in Q1 2026 — one of the most visible structural shifts.
The legal turning point of 2025
Repealing the Commercial Code was the largest change to the rules of the game in twenty years: company activity is now governed by the Civil Code and special laws.
The global context
There is no single worldwide date for such holidays: Global Entrepreneurship Week takes place in November, and Ukraine joins it every year.
N-SHOES: 17 years as a small business
The N-SHOES online shoe store was founded on 15 August 2009, so we have walked the same road as thousands of Ukrainian entrepreneurs: the 2008–2009 crisis, the move into e-commerce, lockdowns, the full-scale war, rolling blackouts and logistics under shelling. Today it is a physical store in Kharkiv (KLAS shopping centre, 18 Donetskyi Lane) plus a full online catalogue with delivery across Ukraine.
We deliberately stepped away from fast fashion in favour of durability and anatomical comfort. The catalogue covers women's and men's footwear in genuine leather, suede and nubuck: court shoes, loafers, boots, sandals, sneakers, fur-lined winter models and membrane hiking pairs. We do not stock children's footwear — that lets us keep deep size runs and multiple widths in the adult lines.
The brand portfolio includes the Polish factories Rylko, Simen, Lonza and Nessi, the Ukrainian labels Allsy and Anna Lucci, our own N-SHOES Fabio line, the sports brands Reebok, Joma and DC Shoes, and Turkish manufacturing. Every delivery is inspected in the warehouse: stitching, sole bonding and last symmetry.
2009year founded
15 August is the store's birthday.
100%authentic products
Direct supply and inspection of every batch.
36–46size range
Women's and men's lines, several widths.
14 daysfor exchange and return
Under Ukraine's Consumer Rights Protection Law.
Offer until 6 September
Happy Entrepreneur's Day!
We wish you loyal and reliable partners, committed customers and conscientious employees.
May your taxes stay moderate and your revenue steadily high.
20% off for every entrepreneurThe discount applies to the full range of women's and men's footwear. Not combinable with other promotions.
Jump to the catalogue
Women's footwear Men's footwear Hiking footwear Ukrainian factories
Frequently asked questions
When is Entrepreneur's Day in Ukraine in 2026?
6 September 2026 — the first Sunday of September. The date is recalculated every year.
Is 6 September a public holiday?
No. Entrepreneur's Day is a professional holiday and is not on the list of non-working days.
Which document established the holiday?
Presidential Decree of Ukraine "On Entrepreneur's Day" of 5 October 1998, No. 1110/98.
How many sole proprietors are registered in Ukraine?
As of 12 August 2026 there were 2,224,104 active registered sole proprietors.
How do I get the 20% discount at N-SHOES?
Pick your models in the catalogue and place the order during the promotion. The discount is applied in the cart; in the physical store it is applied at the checkout.
Does N-SHOES sell children's shoes?
No. We work only with adult women's and men's lines.
In summary
Entrepreneur's Day belongs to the people who take the risk every day: rent the premises, hire the staff, pay the taxes and open the doors even after an air raid alert. In the 28 years since the holiday was established, Ukrainian entrepreneurship has travelled from the first law of 1991 to 2.2 million sole proprietors in 2026. N-SHOES marks the occasion with you — with 20% off and footwear built to last more than one season.
This material is informational. Figures are given as of August 2026; verify current legislation on official sources.
2026-08-03 00:01:00
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