Features of the development of small and medium-sized businesses in France

The article describes the features of the development of small and medium-sized businesses in France. The main purpose of the paper is to determine the role of these entities in the national economy. The paper draws our attention to the incentives and disincentives for business development, as well as the position of France in international business ratings. It gives a detailed analysis of dynamics, industry and geographical structure of the small and medium-sized business, including trends in the development of innovative enterprises and startups. Much attention is given to the government support for small businesses, COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the development of the economic entities.