Microenterprises in Chile: Half Have Monthly Sales of Less Than $1 Million

An in-depth analysis of more than 18,000 traditional microentrepreneurs who used the Luksic Foundation’s “La Brújula del Emprendedor” tool reveals an ecosystem marked by resilience, but also by significant structural challenges. Although 51% of the businesses have been in operation for more than three years, nearly half of them nationwide report monthly sales of no more than one million pesos.

The Entrepreneur’s Compass is a free digital platform created to help entrepreneurs organize their businesses and define their next steps. The process begins with a simple assessment that takes about 10 minutes, followed by a personalized roadmap with practical content and tools tailored to the specific realities and contexts of each business.

“Behind every startup are families who depend on them, which is why it’s essential to improve access to tools, financing, and support—especially for certain groups, such as women and people over 50,” says Cristián Schalper, social programs manager at the Luksic Foundation.

According to the data, 46% of entrepreneurs report sales of up to $1 million, of which 21% do not exceed $500,000 per month. The data also shows that, among the longest-standing businesses, a higher proportion falls into the highest sales brackets: while only 3.8% of businesses less than six months old exceed $5 million per month, this figure rises to 17.6% among those that have been in business for more than three years.

Lower Sales for Women, Despite Similar Management Practices

Although women and men report similar practices—such as keeping personal and business finances separate or keeping track of expenses—significant economic gaps persist.

Women are concentrated in greater proportions in the lower income brackets: 27% earn between $500,000 and $1 million, compared with 21% of men. Conversely, as income rises, men become the predominant group: 13% of men earn between $1 million and $3 million, compared to 10% of women. This gap widens in the highest income brackets, where 31% of men earn over $1 million, while only 21% of women and 18% of men earn more than $5 million, compared to 11% of women.

The data also show differences in the sectors where women work, primarily in areas such as food services (26%) and retail (23%), while men are more heavily represented in a wider range of service sectors, such as lodging, the automotive industry, construction, and tourism services, among others (25% versus 16%). Added to this is lower female participation in areas such as technology, where women account for less than 1% of the workforce, compared to 5% for men.

On some management indicators, women outperform men: 55% of women report having used tools such as the Canvas model—a visual management tool—to structure their business, compared to 42% of men, and 75% accept card payments, compared to 66% of men.

Added to this is a smaller scale of operations: 53% of women hire employees, compared to 64% of men, and when they do hire, they do so on a smaller scale. Gaps are also evident in the use of basic digital tools—such as Excel, Word, or PowerPoint—which are used by 56% of women compared to 70% of men.

Entrepreneurs Over 50: The Gap in Digitalization and Inclusion

The average age of entrepreneurs is 44, and according to the data, 27% are 50 or older. In this group, the adoption of digital tools is lower: only 21% use e-commerce platforms, compared to 28% among those aged 25 to 49, and 26% do not use social media, a proportion that drops to 15% among younger age groups.

“It is essential to promote support networks for entrepreneurs—especially women and adults over 50—so they can build their businesses. In this way, we not only create opportunities for entrepreneurs but also contribute directly to the country’s development,” says Cristián Schalper.

Full article on Emol.