Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: SME Failure Statistics

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Durban
    Posts
    10
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    SME Failure Statistics

    GroFin Founder and MD Mr Jurie Willemse recently researched the failure rate of SME’s and shares his thoughts on the matter :

    “Out of the 14 sources investigated, the number of SME failures by year 5 vary between 50% and 95%. Using the standard statistical method of not taking into account the two outliers then the average failure rate quoted by the 12 sources come to an average of 71% of all SMEs being out of business by year 5, which reiterates the high failure rate of SMEs.”

    “Out of 14 sources we investigated, eight ascribed the key reason for failure to quality of management and six ascribed it to a lack of access to finance. In all cases the 14 either ascribed it to either reasons of not accessing enough or correct financing or quality of management decisions.”

    “This supports GroFin’s value proposition of not only making financing available but also adding value before and during the finance period.”

    “In none of the cases did the SMEs plan to fail….but in most cases they failed to plan and this leads to a high failure rate. Planning - making sure of viability of entrepreneur and business and identifying risks, risk mitigation plans and correct financing need - is critical if you are to increase the success rate of an SME. It is here where GroFin’s value add really lies.”

    “We increase the SME’s ability to succeed by addressing the two key causes of failure, being access to finance and access to management support – the value of not being part of the 71% statistic if you do business with GroFin.”

  2. #2
    Silver Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    durban
    Posts
    419
    Thanks
    128
    Thanked 61 Times in 52 Posts
    Hi,

    Above sounds good. Please educate me: 1) what sort of equity does GroFin take on businesses it helps (funding & management ).
    2)what rate of interest would GroFin charge for this funding.

    Yes, i know it will vary business to business & amount of management & risk involved but i'm sure that there is some average that is the "cost" to businesses you've funded-managed.

    Above is being asked with the real possibility of asking for funding of purchase of business & also for benefit of forum members contemplating same, so please accept in the spirit it is intended.
    Last edited by flaker; 28-Jul-10 at 08:21 AM. Reason: addition

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Durban
    Posts
    10
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Hi

    Although the taking of equity in a business is part of the GroFin model it is more the exception rather than the norm. Most of the businesses we assist involves a term loan of between 3 to 5 years on a self liquidating basis so as to ensure a clean exit at the end of the period. In cases where there is a sound business plan and exceptional entrepreneur equity is an option.

    GroFin has recently amended its cost structure and previously charged incentives or royalties as a percentage of turnover have now been done away with. The GroFin base rate in South Africa is currently 15% and to this a risk premium is added once the required risk analysis has been done and this could add a further 0% to 5% to this interest rate. There are certain administrative and business development assistance fees that are charged during the investigation and due diligence process and a portion of these can be capitalised.

  4. #4
    Silver Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    durban
    Posts
    419
    Thanks
    128
    Thanked 61 Times in 52 Posts

    understand thus far

    So it appears that the funding interest rate would average about 17.5% pa.
    There also is an initial charge (admin etc). as you point out which would be,i guess, approx 2-5% of amount to be funded?you could put down a more accurate %,which will help. And is there a continuing management fee for the "Grofin's value add" during the period of funding apart from the interest?
    many thanks
    Last edited by flaker; 30-Jul-10 at 09:09 AM. Reason: add

  5. #5
    Email problem
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Pakistan
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    So it appears that the funding interest rate would average about 17.5% pa.
    There also is an initial charge (admin etc). as you point out which would be,i guess, approx 2-5% of amount to be funded?you could put down a more accurate %,which will help. And is there a continuing management fee for the "Grofin's value add" during the period of funding apart from the interest?
    many thanks
    agree with you ...!
    any way I can get discount on the interest rate...?

  6. #6
    Diamond Member Blurock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Durban
    Posts
    4,151
    Thanks
    758
    Thanked 886 Times in 735 Posts
    Blog Entries
    7
    Gary, I'm glad to see you're back.

    I do not quite agree on the stats for failing SME's as many of these are sold on or merge with other businesses or morph into something else. So, if we look at deregistered companies or CC's, the stats are definitely wrong. If we consider stats provided by funders, the stats may also be wrong as it would only apply to those who were funded by the banks, and not to those who used bootstrapping or other means outside of the formal funding pool. In both cases stats can be distorted.

    I agree that providing less than the required funding is very dangerous. Its like providing a guy with half a tank of petrol to drive from JHB to Cape Town. Poor planning and bad financial management must be the biggest contributors to failure. In the end it boils down to CASH FLOW. Cash flow is the fuel of any business and without it you will not survive.
    Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...

Similar Threads

  1. High Failure Rate in Business Start-ups
    By zivhave in forum General Business Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 22-Aug-13, 01:27 PM
  2. And the Statistics Bullshit award goes to....
    By Marq in forum South African Politics Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 17-Oct-09, 06:55 PM
  3. [Opinion] USA bailout failure
    By Morticia in forum General Business Forum
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 10-Oct-08, 04:30 PM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •