An economic shock that is difficult to absorb
The sudden rise in energy prices has taken many business owners by surprise, as they often lack a preventative strategy or suitable monitoring tools. The sectors that consume the most energy, such as hospitality, food shops and productive activities, have been particularly hard hit. Despite efforts to reduce their consumption or switch suppliers, many have continued to receive high bills, fuelling a strong sense of frustration.
Margins under pressure and painful trade-offs
The businesses surveyed were not always able to reflect the rise in costs in their prices, which has led to a fall in profit margins and, in some cases, even sales at a loss. Wage indexation has exacerbated this pressure. To stay afloat, many business owners have cut back on expenditure, reduced their marketing or R&D budgets, made staff redundant, outsourced certain functions or even temporarily stopped paying themselves a salary.
Low morale and high expectations of the public
Beyond the financial impact, the crisis has taken a heavy toll on entrepreneurs’ mental health. Many express feelings of loneliness, stress, anger or mistrust towards institutions, which they sometimes regard as out of touch with the reality on the ground. Their expectations centre on public services that are more proactive, more accessible and more digital, but also more people-centred – services capable of listening to, guiding and supporting entrepreneurs over the long term.
