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In Luxembourg, interest in entrepreneurship is growing. According to the 2024 STATEC GEM report(*), 16% of women are considering starting a business within the next three years. This trend reflects a variety of aspirations: finding greater purpose in their work, achieving a better work-life balance, or gaining greater freedom.
Self-employment is as attractive as it is challenging. This article explores the main reasons for choosing the entrepreneurial path and helps you decide whether it could be the right choice for you.
 

What do the figures tell us about women’s entrepreneurship in Luxembourg?

 

The GEM Luxembourg survey, conducted by STATEC(*) in partnership with the Ministry of the Economy and the Chamber of Commerce, measures the country's entrepreneurial activity in Luxembourg each year. In 2024, the rate of female entrepreneurship stood at 6.4%, compared with 13.3% for men. Women were therefore half as likely as men to start a business.
These figures highlight the significant potential for further growth in women’s entrepreneurship in Luxembourg, particularly among those considering turning a business idea into reality.
 

 

 

8 good reasons to start your own business 
 

Autonomy, a sense of purpose, professional growth or building long-term financial security: every entrepreneurial journey is unique.
Here are some of the motivations most commonly shared by women entrepreneurs:

   

Creating a business that reflects who you are

Many businesses are born from a personal experience: an unmet need, a product or service that does not yet exist, or expertise that could be offered differently. Entrepreneurship is about turning an idea into a tangible solution.

The desire to build a business that reflects your values and vision, from the the products or services you offer to to the relationships you build with your customers, is often the starting point.

Making the most of your skills

The experience gained as an employee is a valuable asset: professional expertise, industry knowledge, and a professional network.

Becoming self-employed allows you to make the most of these strengths and take them to the next level.

Enjoying greater autonomy

Choosing your own working hours, workplace or the paceat which you work: organisational freedom is often cited as a key driver to becoming self-employed.

It allows you to adapt your activity to your personal constraints, provided you establish a clear working routine.

Organising your day around family commitments, shift your working hours, resuming work in the evening. Flexibility does not mean working less. Without a framework, work can spill over into every other aspect of your life. Set limits from the start: reference working hours, a dedicated workspace and proper breaks.

One of the key benefits of self-employment is being able to organise your time more freely, provided you do so in a structured way.

 

Working in line with your values

Beyond the business itself, self-employment gives you the freedom to decide how you want to run it.

Selecting your clients, setting your conditions, prioritising quality or proximity: these are decisions that are often out of your control in salaried employment.

For many self-employed women, this alignment between personal values and day-to-day work contributes more to job satisfaction than remuneration.

Creating a positive impact

For many women, entrepreneurship is no longer just about building a profitable business. It is also an opportunity to contribute to a more responsible society by placing people, sustainable development, and solidarity at the heart of their business.

Wether through the circular economy, social inclusion, well-being, responsible consumption or local initiatives: entrepreneurship can become a powerful driver for change.

This desire to combine professional success with a meaningful commitment is now an increasingly important motivation for getting started.

Making your own choices

As a self-employed professional, you are free to define your strategy and priorities.
You decide how to invest, which direction to take and the choices that shape your business.

Decisions can be made more quickly, but they also come with greater responsibility.

This level of responsibility can be a powerful driving force: helping you move forward, build resilience, and strengthen your ability to make decisions.
 

The pleasure of learning

Creating your own business involves developing new skills: management, negotiation, communication, and accounting. Entirely new fields open up, often far removed from your original profession.

This continuous learning process helps strengthen self-confidence.

The potential to increase your income and build wealth

Self-employment allows you to move beyond the limits of a fixed salary. If your business performs well, your income can quickly exceed a usual salary. Of course, earnings can also fluctuate, especially in the start-up phase.

Over time, you also build valuable business assets such as: a client portfolio, a brand, and assets that have a value of their own.


These are some of the reasons most frequently cited by women who choose to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. Whether it is about finding greater purpose in their work, gaining more autonomy, building resilience, creating a positive impact or inspiring other women, they all reflect the same aspiration: building a professional project that alignes with their values, aspirations and skills. For many women, entrepreneurship is far more than a career choice. It’s a way of achieving both personal and professional fulfilment.

How Can You Prepare?

While the advantages of starting a business in Luxembourg are numerous, the transition to self-employment requires preparation, particularly from a financial perspective.
A financial safety net, a clear separation between business and personal finances, and careful consideration of long-term financial protection are all essential foundations for getting started under the right conditions.

The cornerstone of any business project is often the business plan: it helps structure the project, assess its financial viability, and define the resources required to launch the activity. Once the project has been consolidated, opening a dedicated business account becomes a key step in creating the company before becoming an essential tool for managing the business’s financial operations.

Solutions are available to support the day-to-day management of the business and help finance it from the very start of the activity.
 

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Frequently asked questions

  • icone faq question
    Can I start a business while remaining employed in Luxembourg?

    Yes, in most cases. Many self-employed women start their business alongside their job while they validate their project and secure their first clients. First, check your employment contract, as certain clauses may regulate secondary business activities. The specific conditions applicable to your situation are detailed on MyGuichet.lu.

  • icone faq question
    How do I know if it is the right time to leave salaried employment?

    Two indicators matter more than anything else. The first is having real clients, not just expressions of interest. The second is having a financial safety net that covers several months of expenses in order to absorb the irregularity of initial income. If both conditions are met, the transition can be considered with confidence. Otherwise, starting your activity alongside salaried employment remains an option worth exploring.

  • icone faq question
    Where should I start to create a business in Luxembourg?

    The first step is obtaining a business permit, which is required for most commercial, craft, and service activities. Applications are submitted online through MyGuichet.lu. The House of Entrepreneurship and the Chamber of Commerce are your main points of contact: they support project holders at every stage, from choosing the legal structure to completing the administrative formalities.
    Read our article: What are the key steps to create your company in Luxembourg?
     

  • icone faq question
    Do women need a diploma to become entrepreneurs?

    It depends on the planned activity. Certain regulated professions or sectors require a diploma, a specific qualification and/or a business permit in order to operate in Luxembourg. For other activities, no specific diploma is required, although skills and expertise in the field remain essential assets. To find out which conditions apply to your project, consult guichet.lu.

  • icone faq question
    Which sectors offer the best opportunities for entrepreneurs in Luxembourg?

    In Luxembourg, sectors offering strong entrepreneurial opportunities include digital technologies, FinTech, software, the energy sector, healthcare, sustainable transition and high value-added services(*). Economic and societal transformations are also creating new opportunities in support services, well-being, and the social and solidarity economy.
    Read our article: Starting a business in Luxembourg: What are the advanages?
     

  • icone faq question
    Is women’s entrepreneurship progressing in Luxembourg?

    The overall entrepreneurial dynamic is progressing significantly: 9.9% of residents were involved in a new business in 2024, compared with 7% in 2022, according to the STATEC GEM survey(*). However, the female entrepreneurship rate remains lower than that of men: 6.4% compared with 13.3% in 2024. There is still considerable room for progress, and Luxembourg’s support ecosystem is actively working to reduce this gap.

  • icone faq question
    What is the survival rate of new businesses in Luxembourg?

    Most new businesses make it through their first years(*) of activity, but long-term sustainability depends heavily on the sector, the business model, and the quality of project preparation. Thorough preparation, particularly through a solid business plan and realistic financial analysis, remains a key success factor.


     

  • icone faq question
    What social protection is available when becoming self-employed in Luxembourg?

    Self-employed professionals register with the Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS) and contribute towards healthcare, pensions and dependency insurance. Coverage differs from salaried employment in certain respects, notably the absence of unemployment insurance in most situations. Planning personal protection, supplementary pension arrangements or life insurance forms part of the important considerations from the very beginning of the activity.
     

  • icone faq question
    How much personal capital should I plan for when creating my company?

    Two aspects should be distinguished. For the creation of the legal entity, the minimum contribution depends on the type of company chosen. We invite you to consult our dedicated article to understand the applicable requirements:
    Self-employed or LLC in Luxembourg: which status should you choose?
    From a financial perspective, the amount of personal capital required depends on the project, its level of risk, financing needs and the guarantees offered. In practice, a personal contribution is often appreciated because it demonstrates the entrepreneur’s commitment and shows that the risk is not borne entirely by investors or financial institutions.
     

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(*) Key sources :

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Luxembourg 2024/2025 - Statistiques - Luxembourg

Actualités - Chambre de Commerce Luxembourg

Guichet.lu

Startups and Scaleups Ecosystem – Facts & Figures – Luxinnovation

Your devoted BGL BNP Paribas Team, 11/09/2026

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