Financing for SMME start-ups, and expansion for established SMMEs, in the retail sector

Abstract

Many of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) related research studies show that access to finance is a major factor which limits the overall growth of these business entities. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, it is not clear if this is due to inter alia, the limited availability of financing opportunities, SMMEs’ ability to access financing opportunities, SMME management’s limited knowledge about available financing opportunities, or SMME management’s limited general knowledge to obtain and/or abilities to secure financing opportunities. Taking into account that SMMEs represent approximately 90% of all existing business entities in South Africa, it is essential that these business entities need to become sustainable to positively stimulate the national economy. For this research study the barrier of “limited access to financing opportunities” was explored. In order to identify how to overcome this barrier, qualitative research was conducted whereby data were collected from management of financial institutions and independent experts, as well as from small retail business owners and their management. The findings provide insight that, though ample funding opportunities may be available to these business entities, access to finance may not be the only growth obstacle for small retailers in South Africa, but is a serious concern as access to available financing opportunities for South African small retailers is still limited. Some of the major reasons for this were identified as bank regulations, retailers’ general financial knowledge and retailers’ attitude towards growth. These reasons, among others, are discussed in more depth in this report.