Entrepreneurship is Growing in Peru, but So Are Business Closures: Challenges and Opportunities

• More than 77,000 businesses were created in the last quarter of 2024.
• Over 50% of these businesses are led by women.

Lima, june 2025. Peru continues to reaffirm its entrepreneurial spirit. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), by the end of 2024, there were 3.5 million active businesses registered in the Central Business and Establishment Directory, representing a 6.9% increase compared to the previous year. However, this growth is accompanied by a high rate of business closures.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, more than 77,000 businesses were created, but over 292,000 were also closed, resulting in a net reduction of 8.2% of the total. The reasons behind this high number of closures include limited access to financing, lack of business management training, heavy dependence on the founder, informality, lack of digitalization, tax regulations, among other factors. These conditions prevent many businesses from surviving beyond their first year of operation.

Lima remains the main hub for new business initiatives: 38% of the new registrations were in the region, especially in Metropolitan Lima, where more than 27,000 businesses were created or reactivated. Other leading regions include Arequipa (6.2%), La Libertad (6%), Piura and Cusco (4.3%), Junín (4.1%), and Lambayeque (4%).

Regarding the type of organization, 6 out of 10 new businesses were registered as sole proprietorships. This structure was predominant in regions such as Metropolitan Lima, Arequipa, and La Libertad. It was followed by corporations (17.2%) and limited liability individual companies (13.5%), reflecting the high presence of small one-person ventures in the market. This same segment was also the most affected by closures: 37.2% of business closures corresponded to sole proprietorships, suggesting a high vulnerability among businesses that rely on a single person for their operation and management.

One of the most notable aspects of the quarter was the participation of women in entrepreneurship. Of the total new sole proprietorships registered, 50.2% were led by women. Furthermore, INEI data shows that women have a greater presence in key sectors for self-employment and the local economy, such as beauty salons (72%), food and beverage services (63.8%), human health care (62.2%), and retail trade (59.5%). This sectoral segmentation highlights both opportunities and challenges for the design of tailored policies that promote the formalization, specialization, and growth of women-led ventures.

Given this scenario, experts agree that the key lies not only in encouraging the creation of new businesses but also in ensuring the conditions for their consolidation and long-term sustainability. In this regard, various strategies have emerged to improve the resilience of ventures. Among them is the work of the private sector through initiatives like “Aliados de tu Desarrollo” (Allies for Your Development), promoted by Alicorp, which aims to strengthen the capabilities of small businesses in sectors such as gastronomy, baking, small grocery stores, and laundry services. The program combines access to technology, free training, and hands-on guidance, helping thousands of entrepreneurs professionalize their operations and better face market challenges. It also includes social impact actions, such as supporting community kitchens (ollas comunes), thus promoting not only economic development but also community well-being.

"We are allies of the country's entrepreneurs. By supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises—which create jobs and improve the quality of life for thousands—we reaffirm our commitment to Peru’s development," said Malena Morales, VP of Corporate Affairs at Alicorp.

To learn more about these programs and join the growing community of entrepreneurs, visit: www.aliadosdetudesarrollo.pe