Financing constraint on SMEs’ success in the manufacturing sector: case of Cool Ice (Pvt) Limited

Abstract

This research sought to unearth the role of financing in the sudden downturn in the operational cycle of Cool Ice Private Limited and its overall effect on SMEs’ viability in the manufacturing sector of Jaggers, Msasa, Harare Industrial Area. Literature was reviewed on the views of different writers on SME financing and linked to the Case study. The literature cited high borrowing costs, lack of collateral and high risk profile as the major constraints on SMEs financing. Various efforts by different stakeholders to address the problem of SME financing were drawn from different authors. Research was conducted at Cool Ice and other randomly selected firms in the Case Study area through sampling, making use of questionnaires, interviews and analysis of various Cool Ice Documents. Research findings were described, tabulated and presented in a pie chart, bar graph or line graph for trend analysis. The research findings linkage with literature was conducted. The major observation noted was the extremely low investment level, and a series of related problems, which were attributed to lack of financing by the majority of the firms. The research noted that SMEs are making use of personal savings, borrowings from relatives and friends as well as internally generated funds to finance their projects which proved to be highly inadequate as noted from the problems encountered. Conclusions were drawn from these research findings, recommendations were made and suggestions for further areas of study were given