Trends and factors of small business development in Russia

The article substantiates the role and importance of small business as one of the strategically important sectors of the national economy, providing solutions to many of its problems. In recent years, Russia has clearly shown a tendency to reduce the potential of the small and medium-sized business sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic and the elimination of its consequences, the pace of small business development slowed down, there was a certain reduction in the number of small and medium-sized enterprises, some of them moved to the shadow sector or were disbanded according to the self-employment format. Based on the analysis, the causes and consequences of the crisis caused by economic sanctions and the epidemiological situation in the country were identified and systematized, as well as directions for supporting SMEs were formed. The mechanism of state support plays a special role in stabilizing the small business sector associated with the improvement of all aspects of its activities.