The article analyzes the activities of various All-Russian public organizations and professional unions of the Russian Federation such as the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Russian Professional Union of Workers of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, AllRussian Public Organization of Small and Medium Entrepreneurship “Support of Russia”. Their main goals and objectives are identified: the maximum protection of members, the promotion of entrepreneurship in the state, establishment of bilateral relations with the authorities, the implementation of public control, etc. It is determined that the activity is aimed at finding solutions in a wide range of activities: legal protection, implementation of state support, establishing a dialogue between the leaders of small and medium-sized businesses and representatives of public authorities. The analysis also showed that organizations have a certain structure and consist of committees, commissions and units, each of which performs certain functions in its field. The development of public organizations of the Donetsk People’s Republic was evaluated. The activity of the public organization “Trade Union of Workers, Entrepreneurs of Trade and Food Service of the Donetsk People’s Republic” is analyzed. The shortcomings of functioning of alternative public organizations and also the reasons of their closing are defined. Similarity of priority activities of development of small and medium-sized businesses in the Russian Federation and Donetsk People’s Republic is revealed. It is proposed to learn from Russian experience in organizing the activities of public trade unions and other structures in the Republic.