Podjetniška demografija in potencial starejših podjetnikov: Slovenski podjetniški observatorij 2025

Authors

Katja Crnogaj
University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2344-3977 (unauthenticated)
Dijana Močnik
University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7148-4937 (unauthenticated)
Barbara Bradač Hojnik
University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1314-9088 (unauthenticated)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18690/um.epf.2.2026

Keywords:

companies, sole proprietors, financial performance indicators, enrepreneurs, older than 55 years, silver economy, characteristics, opportunities and constraints, strategies and policies, empirical analysis

Synopsis

Business Demographics and the Potential of Senior Entrepreneurs: Slovenian Entrepreneurship Observatory 2025. The Slovenian Entrepreneurship Observatory 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of entrepreneurial demographics and entrepreneurship among older people in Slovenia. In the first part of the study, we examined the key demographic characteristics of Slovenian companies, including their number, size, revenue, labour costs, and added value, broken down by activity, region, and size class. The second part of the study focused on an in­depth examination of entrepreneurship in later life, specifically targeting senior entrepreneurs (particularly those aged 55 and above) and their role in entrepreneurial activity, business stability, and job creation. We analysed the characteristics and dynamics of older entrepreneurs, their motives, challenges, and specific needs, particularly in relation to maintaining career activity, adapting to change, and planning business transfers. Based on our findings, we have developed strategic guidelines and proposals for measures for the supportive environment and policymakers in Slovenia.

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Author Biographies

Katja Crnogaj, University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business

Dr. Katja Crnogaj is an associate professor of entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor. She is the head of the Entrepreneurship program and a member of the Study Affairs Committee and the GING Council. As a researcher at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, she participates in domestic and international projects and is a member of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and Slovenian Entrepreneurship Observatory research teams, and is also involved in the longitudinal program "Entrepreneurship for an Innovative Society". Her interests include entrepreneurial ecosystems, entrepreneurial policy and inclusive entrepreneurship. She publishes in journals and monographs and works as a Slovenian expert advisor to the OECD/EC and the OECD-EU YEPA initiative.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: katja.crnogaj@um.si

Dijana Močnik, University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business

Dr. Dijana Močnik is a full professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Informatics (FERI) of the University of Maribor, where she teaches economics, management and entrepreneurship. She received her PhD in 1998 from the Faculty of Economics and Business (EPF) of the University of Maribor, where she was previously employed for eight years. Before her academic career, she had eight years of experience in the economy. She has been employed at FERI since 2001, and collaborates in research with the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Management of Small Businesses at EPF. She has published numerous scientific and professional articles and is the co-author of several books and scientific monographs in the field of business economics, entrepreneurship and transaction costs. She actively participates in domestic and international scientific conferences.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: dijana.mocnik@um.si

Barbara Bradač Hojnik, University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business

Barbara Bradač Hojnik is a full professor of entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Economics and Business ta University of Maribor. She participated in numerous domestic and international research projects. She is the leader of the Slovenian Entrepreneurship Observatory project and a member of the project team the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Slovenia and the longitudinal research program Entrepreneurship for an Innovative Society. She was an expert in the SME Performance Review project for Slovenia in 2021 and 2022 and in the Statistics through Eastern partnership project for the European Commission. Her main research areas are startup-, sustainabe-, digital-, corporate- and international entrepreneurship. She is the author or co-author of several scientific articles, scientific monographs, chapters in scientific monographs and contributions at international scientific conferences.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: barbara.bradac@um.si

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Published

January 28, 2026

Series

Slovenian Entrepreneurship Observatory / Slovenski podjetniški observatorij

Online ISSN

3023-9818

Print ISSN

1854-8040

Categories

Copyright (c) 2026 University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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E-book (pdf)

ISBN-13 (15)

978-961-299-085-5

THEMA Subject Codes (93)

K, KJ, KJH

COBISS.SI ID (00)

266127363

Date of first publication (11)

2026-01-28

Details about the available publication format: Softback (free)

Softback (free)

THEMA Subject Codes (93)

K, KJ, KJH

COBISS.SI ID (00)

266127875

ISBN-13 (15)

978-961-299-096-1

Date of first publication (11)

2026-01-28

Physical Dimensions

17mm x 24mm x 1.5mm

How to Cite

Močnik, D., & Bradač Hojnik, B. (2026). Podjetniška demografija in potencial starejših podjetnikov: Slovenski podjetniški observatorij 2025. University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.epf.2.2026