Development of small and medium entrepreneurship in the Republic of Croatia

Poduzetništvo predstavlja generator gospodarskog razvoja i zapošljavanja u svim nacionalnim ekonomijama suvremenog svijeta. Glavni pokreta razvoja suvremenog poduzetništva su malo i srednje poduzetništvo koje u Republici Hrvatskoj predstavlja jedan od vodećih gospodarskih sektora koji pozitivno djeluje na sveukupno zapošljavanje i gospodarski razvoj. Globalna ekonomska kriza manifestirala se, kako u Hrvatskoj tako i u svijetu, zaustavljanjem gospodarskog rasta i značajnim smanjenjem proizvodnje i potrošnje te padom bruto društvenog proizvoda. Razvijene poduzetnike kompetencije pojedinca i društva u cjelini, a u uvjetima globalne ekonomske krize predstavljaju temeljnu pretpostavku za uspješan rast i razvoj. Upravo sektor malog i srednjeg poduzetništva ima kljunu ulogu u rastu i razvoju gospodarstva sa svrhom konkurentnosti na tržištu zemalja regije i Europske unije. Svrha i cilj ovog rada jest prikazati položaj poduzetnika u Republici Hrvatskoj, identificirati probleme s kojima se susreću prilikom osnivanja tvrtki te prikazati tijek razvoja malog i srednjeg poduzetništva u Republici Hrvatskoj.Entrepreneurship is a generator of economic development and employment in all national economies of the modern world. The main driver for the development of modern entrepreneurship are small and medium-sized enterprises, which in the Republic of Croatia represent one of the leading economic sectors that have a positive effect on overall employment and economic development. The global economic crisis has manifested itself, both in Croatia and in the world, by halting economic growth, showing a significant decline in production and consumption and a decline in gross domestic product. Developed entrepreneurial competences of the individual and society as a whole, in the conditions of the global economic crisis is a fundamental prerequisite for successful growth and development. The SME sector plays a key role in the growth and development of the economy in order to compete on the markets of the countries of the region and the European Union. The purpose and the goal of this paper is to show the position of entrepreneurs in Croatia, to identify the problems they come across when they are trying to start a company and to show the course of development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Croatia