Most small businesses are able to get access to finance when needed, according to the SME Growth Index 2013, produced by research specialists SBP. Across the panel of 500 SMEs, 18% of all firms had applied for bank loans in the previous year, while 16% had applied for bank overdraft or credit facilities. The large majority of applicants were successful - well over two-thirds of overdraft and credit applications were granted in full, as were over 75% of loans. Only 13% of credit and overdraft applications and 10% of bank loan applications were rejected. An additional small minority refused the offers made because of unfavourable conditions.

SMEs spent the equivalent of eight working days per month dealing with red tape in 2013, according to a study by research specialists, SBP. The SME Growth Index 2013 revealed that SMEs spent an average of 75 hours a month dealing with red tape in 2013 – the equivalent of eight working days.

Skills shortages and overly stringent labour regulations are harming the development of the SME sector in South Africa, according to the 2013 SME Growth Index, published by research specialists SBP. 15% of business owners said that a lack of skills was the greatest impediment to the growth of their firm, ahead of 12% who were overburdened by excessive regulation.

Owners of growing small businesses are pursuing innovation and are investing in their firms, as revealed by the 2013 SME Growth Index, produced by research specialists SBP. 46% of firms that experienced high sales growth in 2013 invested in their businesses. For firms whose sales were in decline, that figure dropped to 20%.

The 2013 SME Growth Index, produced by research specialists SBP, reveals that older SMEs are less willing to add new jobs than younger firms, but create more jobs than younger firms when they do choose to expand. Nearly two-thirds of SMEs saw a rise in turnover in 2013 – a 13% average increase across the panel, up from 9% recorded in 2012. Turnover growth was most evident among business services firms.

Johannesburg, 21 February 2013 (SBP) – The survival of South Africa’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) community is under both immediate and long-term threat. This stark and uncomfortable picture emerges from the second round of the SME Growth Index™,Easier/Harder for Small Business in South Africa, produced by business environment specialists SBP, which is being released today.

Johannesburg, 22 November 2011 (SBP) - South Africa is squandering a critical economic asset and source ofjob creation by failing to create an environment for the small and medium enterprise sector to flourish. Butthe good news is that this can be remedied. This is the key message to emerge from the 2011 SME GrowthIndex, produced by research specialists SBP.

South Africa is squandering a critical economic asset and source of job creation by failing to create an environment for the small and medium enterprise sector to flourish. But the good news is that this can be remedied. This is the key message to emerge from the 2011 SME GrowthIndex, produced by research specialists SBP.