The role played by business development services providers (BDSs) in improving access to finance by start-up SMEs in the Buffalo City Municipality

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorFatoki, Oen
dc.contributor.authorMusara, Mazanaien
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-13T00:16:13Z
dc.date.available2026-08-13T00:16:13Z
dc.date.issued2010en
dc.description.abstractSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) are very important to employment creation, poverty alleviation and the sustainable economic development of a nation. Encouraging SMEs, especially start-ups is crucial for sustainable economic growth. However, the failure rate of start-up SMEs in South Africa is one of the highest in the world. In reviewing the literature of the causes of the failure of start-up SMEs, access to finance emerged as a prime challenge. Start-up SMEs find it very difficult to obtain external finance from commercial banks and venture capitalists. The national and provincial governments in South Africa have realised that access to finance is a major constraint to the growth and survival of start-up SMEs and have put in place certain measures to improve access to finance by start-up SMEs. One of the primary measures put in place by government to improve access to finance by start-up SMEs is the provision of Business Development Service by some government agencies. This research investigates the role of Business Development Services Providers (BDSs) in improving access to finance for start-up SMEs. Questions arise as to why the failure rate of start-up SMEs is high in South Africa despite all these government measures aimed at assisting start-ups to access finance. Empirical research was conducted to investigate the role of BDS in improving access to finance by start-up SMEs. The instrument used for data collection was the self-administered questionnaire. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA, correlation and regression analysis. The Cronbach‟s alpha was used as a measure of reliability. The results of the study revealed that: Access to finance is still a major problem hindering the survival of start-up SMEs. There is a lack of awareness of BDS providers and their services by the majority of start-up SMEs. There is a significant positive relationship between the use of BDS by start-up SMEs and success in accessing finance. Start-up SMEs that are aware of BDS do make use of the services. The results suggest that BDS are important to improving access to finance by start-up SMEs. However, there is a need to build awareness and encourage the use of BDS by start-up SMEs to improve their access to finance and ultimately increase their chances of survival.en
dc.format176 leaves; 30 cmen
dc.formatpdfen
dc.identifier.citationMusara, Mazanai. 2010en
dc.identifier.othervital:11315en
dc.identifier.otherhttp://hdl.handle.net/10353/359en
dc.identifier.otherSmall business -- Financeen
dc.identifier.otherNew business enterprisesen
dc.identifier.otherBusiness enterprises -- Financeen
dc.identifier.otherCorporations -- Financeen
dc.identifier.otherSmall business marketingen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/4636
dc.language.isoEnglishen
dc.publisherUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.publisherFaculty of Management & Commerceen
dc.rightsUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.subjectSmall business -- Financeen
dc.subjectNew business enterprisesen
dc.subjectBusiness enterprises -- Financeen
dc.subjectCorporations -- Financeen
dc.subjectSmall business marketingen
dc.titleThe role played by business development services providers (BDSs) in improving access to finance by start-up SMEs in the Buffalo City Municipalityen
dc.title.alternativeThe role played by business development services providers (BDSs) in improving access to finance by start-up SMEs in the Buffalo City Municipalityen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.typeMastersen
dc.typeM Com (Business Management)en

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
vital_11315+SOURCEPDF+SOURCEPDF.0.pdf
Size:
1.81 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Theses And Dissertations