Having your own business leads to better finances and more mental peace for half
Despite the advantages, half of all Dutch respondents say they would have preferred to think a little longer about their choice for entrepreneurship. As many as 43 percent of them were not well prepared for everything that comes with running their own business.
"No matter what country you live in, entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted," says Joe Wilson, Chief Evangelist at bunq. "Starting your own business costs not only money but also a lot of time, patience, and perseverance. Entrepreneurs deserve to run their business in a way that fits the life they want to lead, not the other way around. By making their financial administration easier, they have time left for the things that really matter, such as family and friends or further growing their business."
Starting with entrepreneurship
Freedom seems to be the main reason for starting with entrepreneurship. As many as 51 percent of all Dutch respondents say that especially the prospect of being their own boss has motivated them to start for themselves. However, once they shared their entrepreneurial plans with their loved ones, only one in three Dutch entrepreneurs felt fully supported by them. About half of them found that family and/or friends even felt the need to openly express their doubts. Nevertheless, only 36 percent of all Dutch respondents found it difficult to start their own business afterwards, compared to 59 percent of German and 62 percent of French entrepreneurs. Wilson: "The Netherlands has traditionally been a true entrepreneurial country. Despite family and friends sometimes having doubts, the vast majority of respondents still follow their own plan. Entrepreneurs are responsible for their own success: they determine how far they go, no one else."
Biggest challenges
The research shows that Dutch entrepreneurs find it particularly difficult in the early stages to find enough customers (26 percent) and financing (24 percent). A significant portion of them also underestimate how much time (33 percent) and money (34 percent) it takes to set up their own business. Nevertheless, three-quarters of them would, if given the chance, start a new company right away. They are increasingly looking across borders, with nearly a quarter of all surveyed Dutch entrepreneurs already being active abroad. The biggest obstacles include administrative red tape (33 percent), differences in laws and regulations (27 percent), and opening a local bank account (11 percent).
About bunq
bunq, the second-largest neobank in the EU, has reinvented banking. As the world's first bank fully powered by artificial intelligence, bunq uses its own AI technology in all parts of the company: from customer support to its internal processes. bunq focuses on how digital nomads and businesses manage, save, and invest their money. By building a product that truly meets the wishes and needs of users, the neobank makes life easier for people and businesses that are not tied to one place.
Over the years, bunq has continuously achieved milestones that many considered impossible. It was the first party in 35 years to receive a European banking license, achieved the largest Series A investment ever for a European fintech (€193 million), and was the first neobank in the EU to be structurally profitable. In October 2025, bunq also took its first step towards the United States as a recognized broker-dealer, an important part of its ambition to become the first global neobank. For more information, see: https://www.bunq.com.
