The Perception of Being Too Small to Formalize
According to the Mexican Entrepreneurship Association (Asem), 70% of entrepreneurs believe their sales levels are insufficient to formalize their businesses. This perception discourages them from taking the leap into formalization, depriving them of benefits such as credit access, legal protection, labor security, and improved growth conditions.
Burdensome Bureaucracy and Excessive Paperwork
Moreover, entrepreneurs cite bureaucracy and excessive paperwork as barriers to formalizing their small businesses. The Agency of Digital Transformation and Telecommunications states that an average of 50 procedures is required to start operations.
Advocating for Formalization: A Pathway to Opportunities
Ana María Aguilar Argáez, Executive Director of the Mexican Business Council (CMN), emphasized that “formalizing a business should not be a punishment but an opportunity door. Formalization means inclusion, protection, and betting on the future: every entrepreneurship integrating formalization strengthens Mexico’s economy and paves the way for others.”
During CREO MX’s inauguration, which promotes and supports entrepreneurship and growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes) in Mexico, Aguilar highlighted that platforms offering training, networking opportunities, and financing lay the groundwork for a fairer, more formal, and robust economy for the country.
José Antonio Pérez Antón, President of CCMX, echoed this sentiment, stating that “through CREO MX, large companies from the Mexican Business Council support entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into sustainable projects, providing them with tools, mentorship, and linkage opportunities to connect them with formal value chains.”
CREO MX: Capacity Building and Support for Entrepreneurs
By 2025, CREO MX has trained over 3,300 entrepreneurs, provided more than 1.3 million pesos in seed capital in collaboration with WORTEV, and supported 15 developing projects through specialized mentorship programs.
The inaugural event featured keynote speeches and panels, including “The Language of AI: Connecting Ideas with Artificial Intelligence” by Alejandro Jiménez from NVIDIA, the “Impact Entrepreneurship: Startups Transforming the Game” panel with Blumy, Clip, and StoriCard leaders, and a Meta presentation by Manuel Haces, Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The “Second Edition of Startup Hunter IPN” and the “Entrepreneurial Market” were also presented, showcasing 20 100% Mexican products representing the talent, creativity, and innovation of the country’s entrepreneurs.
Since its establishment, CREO MX has conducted over 20 regional editions in 14 Mexican states, including Aguascalientes, Baja California, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. This has consolidated a community of over 22,000 entrepreneurs and mipymes who have found a space for growth, innovation, and connection with major private sector companies through this platform.
Key Questions and Answers
- What percentage of Mexican entrepreneurs believe their sales are insufficient for formalization? 70% of entrepreneurs, according to Asem, feel their sales are too low for formalization.
- What barriers do entrepreneurs face when trying to formalize their businesses? Entrepreneurs cite bureaucracy and excessive paperwork as significant obstacles to formalization.
- What is the vision of Ana María Aguilar Argáez, CMN Executive Director, regarding business formalization? Aguilar Argáez sees formalization as an opportunity door, emphasizing inclusion, protection, and betting on the future.
- What support does CREO MX offer to entrepreneurs? CREO MX provides capacity building, networking opportunities, financing, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable projects.
- How many entrepreneurs has CREO MX trained by 2025? By 2025, CREO MX has trained over 3,300 entrepreneurs.
