Once supported by a range of government measures, French businesses now find themselves facing an unforgiving economic reality. The end of public aid reveals the depth of the difficulties facing numerous sectors and results in a dramatic rise in business failures and liquidations. In this article, we will dissect the most recent data to understand the extent of this wave of failures, analyze the underlying causes, and explore the paradoxes of this troubled period, where the desire to undertake persists despite the obstacles. For while the shadow of the crisis looms, it has not yet suffocated the entrepreneurial spirit, which, against all odds, manifests vigorously in certain regions of the country.