Entrepreneurship is attracting strong interest among young Poles, but many want to test an idea before giving up the security of a regular salary. A survey cited in the Polish source material shows that 83% of Gen Z respondents considering business activity would prefer to develop it alongside their existing job.
Across the broader sample, 63% said they want to run a business and another 26% did not rule it out. Many remain at an early stage: 43% are still developing an idea, while 17% have already begun some form of business activity.
Side business is becoming the preferred entry model
The willingness to combine employment and entrepreneurship is not limited to the youngest respondents. Around 74% of people over 30 also said they would consider developing a business without immediately leaving their job.
The model reduces personal financial risk and allows founders to test demand, pricing and customer acquisition before relying on the venture as their main source of income.
Low start-up costs matter
For 39% of respondents, the ability to start with limited capital is an important factor. Digital services, e-commerce, consulting and creator businesses can often be launched gradually without the fixed costs associated with a traditional physical company.
That makes entrepreneurship more accessible, but it does not remove the need to validate whether customers are willing to pay and whether the business can eventually support the founder.
AI lowers the perceived barrier to entry
Seventy-three percent of respondents said artificial intelligence can reduce the amount of work needed to start or operate a business. Generative tools are increasingly used for research, marketing, content creation, customer communication and simple automation.
AI can therefore make a small team more productive, although it does not replace market knowledge, sales skills or financial management.
Risk and bureaucracy still hold people back
The main barriers remain uncertainty about income, fear of failure, regulation and the practical complexity of running a company. For employees with mortgages or family commitments, the opportunity cost of leaving a stable job can be particularly high.
The popularity of the side-business model suggests Poland may see more gradual entrepreneurship: companies beginning as evening or weekend projects and only later becoming full-time ventures once demand is proven.
