Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









SMEs - entrepreneurs sourcing start up finance

Written by: Dr. Rob Smorfitt

Article Overview: How do entrepreneurs source start up finance?

Free Download - SMEs – SMEs struggling in South Africa. Why? By Dr. Rob Smorfitt
Name: Email:

SMEs - entrepreneurs sourcing start up finance

Entrepreneurs in South Africa need to look at start up finance more carefully.

There appears to be a thinking that government or banks must fund your start up business. Why? It never happened that way before!

If you had no assets such as a house to hock to the bank in return for start up capital, you either sold other assets such as motorbikes, second cars or whatever, to raise the cash, dipped into your savings, borrowed against insurance policies, or borrowed from friends or family. I remember in the early days starting a business after selling my computer to raise R5000 start up capital.

True entrepreneurs do not whine about banks and government refusing to lend them money, they get out there and find it. Are you a true entrepreneur?

Rob Smorfitt

Related Articles
  Restricted Access to Finance
  5.7 Meeting the needs of the entrepreneur: Enterprise solutions to poverty
  5.5 Energy access as market failure: Enterprise solutions to poverty
  Expanding the supply of finance through the non-financial private sector - Increasing SME Access to Finance: A Four Pronged Approach
  SMEs - are African governments doing it right

Home > African-Accounts > Dr. Rob Smorfitt > SMEs entrepreneurs sourcing start up finance
Article Tags: entrepreneurs, finance, SME, SMME, Smorfitt, South Africa, startup finance

About the Author: Dr. Rob Smorfitt
RSS for Dr. Rob's articles - Visit Dr. Rob's website

Have an MBA and a PhD in entrepreneurship. Three key areas of ongoing research are entrepreneurship and innovation in large business strategy, the impact of legislation on SME development and SME finance. 


Run my own SME blog at http://sme-smb-smme.blogspot.com as well as an entrepreneurship and innovation for large businesses blog at http://innoveur.blogspot.com 


I have been self-employed since 1982. I have started or purchased in excess of 50 businesses since then. Most were sold again and a few were shut down because of a lack of profitability. Many were run by staff or family while I worked full time in my bigger businesses. 

Author of 6 books. Written articles for various magazines, newspapers and websites.  


Experienced in research within developing countries.

 



Click here to visit Dr. Rob's website
Dashed Line

SME, SMB, SMME, all the debate and info
More from Dr. Rob Smorfitt
SMEs are African governments doing it right
SMEs the importance of communications for SMEs in Africa
SMEs the difference between entrepreneurs and franchisees
SMEs why is franchising not more popular in Africa
SMEs Trends to watch for new business opportunities over the next decade or two


Related Forum Posts
Hello Everyone!!! Hello Everyone!!! - Hi, After 4 years of professional experience in procurement/strategic sourcing, I am planning to start my own venture by providing services in the areas of spend file management, market research (commodity markets) and other sourcing and commodity management related functions. Please suggest some ways to kick start my venture. Most of the services that I am planning to offer are internet/computer based. I have placed an ad on Craigslist, any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks Lavi
Private Venture Capital Consortiums and Funding Syndicates Private Venture Capital Consortiums and Funding Syndicates - From the posts in this forum (all threads) it is very clear that funding is in high demand and many entrepreneurs are unsuccessful in sourcing, not to mention secure, private international venture capital. There are about 6000 international associations linked to venture capital around the globe and they all make their presence noticed on the internet. For most entrepreneurs this will sound very attractive, and it should be, but many unfortunately will stare disappointment in the face at the start of their endevours. The international success rate for venture capital finance / funding in start up projects is an unbelieveable low 2% - 5% maximum. Most venture capitalist linked with associations will require some sort of surity or guarantee of up to 50% of the investment. The entrepreneur will then have to pay fees up front before a cent has been invested, not to mention broker / consultant commissions of up to 12% of the total value of the project. Why is the success rate so low (2% - 5%)? - 1. Business Plan - poor preparation and insufficient information. Every entrepreneur will explain how big a specific market is in potential profits but they all lack the basic important factor every investor wants to see and that is How and What are you going to do to capture 10% of that market sector. Stop telling every investor that you "want" to capture 10%, tell them how you will go about doing so. 2. Management Team - How can anyone expect from an investor to invest in a company with poor management. How about investing $5 million in a one man operation - where is the security for the venture capitalist. Be realistic, put yourself in the position of the investor, argue the facts and then approach an investor if you are able to convince them of your project or business. 3. Project - If your project or business (products or service) is not unique or cheaper venture capitalists will not invest - final. If it is existing technologies, products or services improve them or make them cheaper. Entrepreneurs should always research venture capitalist befire approaching them - it is the difference between success anf failure Always Remember - Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan. ----------------
young entrepreneur financing young entrepreneur financing - Hi Michael - are you helping finance young entrepreneurs?
Finance is the basic requirement Finance is the basic requirement - Without finance no one is going to stand next to you, your employees join your company looking at your financial situation and growth, if you don't have enough finance then better do a job.
Re: Lessons in the guise of fiction Re: Lessons in the guise of fiction - [quote="OmnivoreInk":1eptuups]This sounds like another book I read a few weeks ago. It was fiction, a murder mystery in the world of high finance, but in between the fiction were lessons for entrepreneurs in how to run their business.[/quote:1eptuups] What was the name of that book -- the high finance murder mystery?


Recommended Article for You close

  Restricted Access to Finance

Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Unspoken Yet Important Rules for Book Proposals

ROSI Return on SUNK Investment

Work at home Opportunities for the Disabled

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.