Finance for Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in India: Sources and Challenges

24 Pages Posted: 9 Sep 2016 Last revised: 13 Sep 2016

See all articles by Charan Singh

Charan Singh

Indian Institute of Management (IIMB), Bangalore

Poornima Wasdani

Royal Roads University; Grant Thornton India LLP

Date Written: July 26, 2016

Abstract

Finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) has been a concern for all stakeholders including entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and government organizations. The key objective of the study was to identify various challenges faced by MSMEs in sourcing of finance during different stages of their life cycle. This study is a first-of-its-kind attempt to focus on these aspects. The study further explores whether the financial awareness of MSME entrepreneurs is a major limitation in the identification and utilization of sources of finance. Data was collected through personal interviews using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 85 MSMEs. The survey was conducted mainly in the city of Bangalore covering a wide spectrum of sectors like precision tools, weavers, jewelers, food retailers, metal works, textiles, and book shops. The results reinforce the findings of other studies that utilization of formal sources like banks is significantly small compared with informal sources like personal and family wealth. The study found that the main challenges faced in underutilization of formal sources were inadequacy of collateral assets and lack of financial awareness of entrepreneurs. Based on the conclusion that requirement of finance differs with the life-cycle stage of the MSME, recommendations have been proposed for entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and policy makers.

Keywords: India, SME, small and medium-sized enterprises, microenterprises, finance, loans, capital, start-up, economic growth, firms, banks, financial institutions, financial awareness, sources of finance

JEL Classification: O23; G20; L26

Suggested Citation

Singh, Charan and Wasdani, Dr. Kishinchand Poornima, Finance for Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in India: Sources and Challenges (July 26, 2016). ADBI Working Paper 581, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2833748 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2833748

Charan Singh (Contact Author)

Indian Institute of Management (IIMB), Bangalore ( email )

Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore, Karnataka 560076
India
080-26993818 (Phone)

Dr. Kishinchand Poornima Wasdani

Royal Roads University ( email )

2005 Sooke Road
Victoria, British Columbia V9B 5Y2
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.royalroads.ca/people/poornima-wasdani

Grant Thornton India LLP ( email )

Bangalore,, Karnataka
India

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