The current economic downturn exerts significant pressure on the employment market, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as migrant workers. Encouraging entrepreneurship can help alleviate this employment pressure. This study empirically examines the impact of financial literacy on the entrepreneurial decisions and performance of migrant workers using data from CHFS2017. The findings reveal that financial literacy significantly and positively influences both the entrepreneurial decisions and performance of migrant workers. This conclusion remains robust across various robustness checks. Mechanism analysis shows that financial literacy primarily impacts entrepreneurial decisions and performance by easing credit constraints and altering risk attitudes among migrant workers. This research enriches the existing entrepreneurship theory and provides empirical evidence to help migrant workers enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities and optimize their decision-making processes. It also holds value for promoting rural economic development and fostering integrated urban-rural development.