Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Financing: A Review of Literature

Abstract

There is no doubt that access to finance is of crucial importance for the ongoing and sustainable growth and profitability of small and medium enterprises sector (SMEs) through its role in facilitating the creation of new businesses and nurturing the innovation process as well as promoting the growth and development of existing businesses, which in turn, boost national economic growth. The main motive of this paper is that SMEs significantly differ from large firms in terms of their financial decisions and behaviour. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the various financing sources of SMEs taking into account the effects of both SME characteristics and those of the owner–managers on SME financial behaviour.