Abstract: The article considers ways of additional stimulation of entrepreneurial initiative in the Russian Federation. The use of tax tools to increase this kind of activity is justified. The relevance of the study is due to the instability of small and medium-sized businesses during the crisis periods of the economic cycle, while the importance of small and medium-sized businesses for the further economic development of the state is noted. To achieve the purpose of the study, the criteria of small and medium-sized businesses are presented, as well as a brief analysis of existing measures to support small and medium-sized businesses in the Russian Federation. Based on successful foreign experience, a system of preferential lending to small and medium-sized businesses through banking and tax cooperation has been proposed for implementation. The potential of application and development of such a system is reflected, as well as the advantages of its use for companies, banks and the state are listed. In addition, additional measures to optimize the simplified taxation system are presented. In particular, it is proposed to revise the criterion of the residual value of fixed assets by multiplying the limiter by the deflator coefficient annually and introducing a second limiter for the loss of the right to apply the simplified taxation system. The author notes the importance of such changes in the tax regime for small and medium-sized businesses in priority industries.