The modern assessment of the state of the economy in the world has become widespread in the context of the systemic paradigm, according to which two aspects of the consideration of the economy can be distinguished: interaction of macroeconomics with the state and society; space-time continuum of different levels of the economy (micro-, meso- and macro levels). In terms of the ongoing global political contradictions, financial and economic crises, socio-ethnic conflicts, COVID-19 restrictions, the issues of in-depth understanding of sustainable mechanisms for economic development are of particular relevance, which involves the development of approaches and measures aimed at stable formation and development in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The solutions are to be found and the scientific hypotheses expressed in assessing the features of the formation and development of small and medium-sized businesses in the Russian Federation are to be formed in the context of digital transformation of business processes. There is studied a wealth of patterns, which accompany various aspects of the formation and development of SMEs, taking into account the harmonization of the features of digital transformations in the field of economic, legal, socio-economic and accounting and analytical systems and tracks of their acceleration. The factors influencing the formation and development of SMEs are graphically interpreted, the main stages in the evolution of the formation of small and medium-sized businesses in the Russian Federation are characterized, and the problems, trends, prospects and main determinants of the features of the development of the object under study are identified through a content analysis and institutional, sociological and economic analysis. There has been worked out a concept of prospects for the development of digital transformation of SMEs including the four main areas (internal potential, adaptive business environment, availability of strategic resources, institutional regulation), which provide a faster transition to the new forms of organizing and running business.