The need to support and develop small business, as one of the pillars of the successful economic development of the state, has been talked about, written about, and held at various levels for quite a long time in Russia. A striking example of such a small business is individual entrepreneurs engaged in woodworking. These enterprises have their own characteristic features of work, which consist in the fact that the equipment and tools of the main production, basically, belong to the cheapest segment, quite often they are made independently. Production areas are rented in small premises of large industrial enterprises that are in operation and have ceased production. Manufacturing focuses on a fairly narrow segment of consumers, as well as on the production of non-serial products (for individual orders). Small businesses in woodworking have never brought super-profits due to the rather tough competition. To analyze the current situation, a sample of typical representatives of small business in woodworking located in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region has been considered