Why external financing is important for MSME?5 answersExternal financing is crucial for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) due to its impact on their growth and innovation capabilities. MSMEs heavily rely on external sources of funding to ensure liquidity, continuity of financing, and access to resources for implementing innovative projects, which significantly influence their development trajectory and business structure. Research indicates that MSMEs with innovative profiles tend to have a higher demand for bank loans, especially when involved in specific innovation typologies and combinations. Additionally, external financing, whether from banks or equity investors, plays a vital role in enhancing MSMEs' export efforts and reducing managerial risks, indirectly contributing to their growth and competitiveness. Therefore, access to external financing under favorable conditions is essential for MSMEs to improve their economic performance and sustainability.
Is SMEs lack of financial risk management?5 answersSMEs do face challenges in financial risk management. Research indicates that SMEs are more involved in risk management compared to microenterprises, with financial reserves and insurance being commonly used risk reduction measures. The implementation of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) in SMEs is crucial for enhancing financial performance, especially when combined with a mature organizational culture and strategic risk management performance. Moreover, the rapid growth of e-commerce in SMEs necessitates the development of specialized financial risk management systems to address risks arising from this sector. Financial literacy among SME actors is essential for effective financial management, enabling strategies like maintaining reserves and diversifying investments to manage risks effectively. Therefore, while SMEs do engage in financial risk management, there are areas where improvements and specialized approaches are needed to enhance their resilience and performance.
What are the specific financial challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to inadequate funds?5 answersSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face specific financial challenges due to inadequate funds. These challenges include a lack of access to finance, high financing costs, limited availability of long-term loans, and difficulties in obtaining credit facilities from commercial banks. SMEs often struggle to obtain raw materials and finished goods, leading to increased production costs and decreased revenue. Limited financial literacy and knowledge, as well as limited access to formal financial services, further hinder SMEs' ability to overcome these challenges. Government support programs that provide financial aid and business advice have been effective in helping SMEs survive during the pandemic. To address these challenges, potential solutions include reducing interest rates, adjusting repayment periods, improving financial education and literacy programs, introducing alternative financial services, and providing government support. These solutions can help SMEs access the financial assistance they need to grow and contribute to the overall development of the economy.
What are the challenges faced by MSMEs in accessing capital?4 answersMSMEs face several challenges in accessing capital. Limited access to finance is a major obstacle, with issues such as stringent funding constraints, especially at the early stages of their activity, and limited access to formal financial services. Other challenges include market competition, regulatory compliance burdens, and skill shortages. These challenges are more pronounced in developing countries, where the financial system does not favor the productive sector. In addition, limited financial literacy and knowledge, high cost of financial services, and limited availability of appropriate financial products also hinder MSMEs' access to capital. To address these challenges, potential solutions include enhancing alternative funding sources such as business angel investment, crowdfunding, venture capital investment, and SME stock markets. Other recommendations include financial education and literacy programs, reduced collateral requirements, improved availability of financial products, and government support.
What are the factors that affect cash flow in a business?5 answersCash flow in a business can be affected by various factors. Debt and firm size have a significant positive effect on investment-cash flow sensitivity. Liquidity, on the other hand, has a significant negative effect on investment-cash flow sensitivity. National culture also plays a role in shaping the investment-cash flow relationship, with collectivism attenuating the relationship and uncertainty avoidance, power distance, and masculinity reinforcing it. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), capital expenditure, and depreciation are found to significantly influence free cash flows, with EBITDA and capital expenditure showing a positive relationship and depreciation reflecting a negative relationship. Profitability is identified as the most important factor in determining free cash flow risks, followed by debt policy and firm size. Economic factors such as firm size, inventory level, capital intensity, degree of competition, and product type (durable-nondurable) can better explain the time-series properties of cash flows compared to earnings.
Why is there limited research on the resilience and sustainability of business for developing MSMEs?4 answersLimited research on the resilience and sustainability of business for developing MSMEs exists due to several factors. Firstly, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of economic resilience in MSMEs, but research in this area is still limited. Additionally, there is a gap between consumer expectations for sustainable business practices and the actual adoption of these strategies by MSMEs. Furthermore, the focus on internal and external environmental factors in MSMEs has overshadowed the need for research on resilience and sustainability. Moreover, the lack of knowledge on the relationship between resilience and risk management has hindered research efforts in this area. Lastly, the specific context of developing countries, such as the fisheries sector, requires more research on the characteristics and resilience of MSMEs in these industries. Overall, the limited research on the resilience and sustainability of business for developing MSMEs can be attributed to various factors, including the pandemic, consumer expectations, research focus, and specific industry contexts.