Аннотация:The article explains the uneven development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Russia within the framework of the ‘entrepreneurial ecosystems’ concept. A corresponding typology of the Russian regions was carried out according to the proposed model. The most developed ecosystems with high density and sectoral diversity of SMEs are formed in regions with access to large consumer markets, capital, and low risks for investors: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Belgorod, Kaliningrad, Samara regions, Tatarstan, etc. Medium developed ecosystems with industrial clusters formed in Kaluga, Tula, Leningrad, Tomsk and other regions near large agglomerations. The least developed SMEs sector is in areas with high costs of doing business: the North Caucasus, the Far East and the Arctic zone, which requires special measures of state policy. Objective geographical regularities are traced along the axes: north - south, west - east, center and periphery, etc. Therefore, constraints in the development of SMEs cannot always be overcome by improving institutional conditions. The level of development of ecosystems determines their ability to withstand external shocks: the main negative impact is caused by the fall in household incomes. The effect of the FIFA World Cup is positive in the hosting regions and in its neighbors. In conclusion, a number of recommendations for the implementation of a regionally differentiated entrepreneurial policy are proposed.