Effect of Business Financing on the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Lurambi Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sources of business financing on the financial performance of Small and Medium enterprises in Lurambi Sub-County. Specifically, the study sought to examine the effect of commercial loan-financing on the financial performance of Small and medium enterprises; to assess the effect of retained earnings financing on the financial performance of Small and medium enterprises and to establish the effect of trade credit financing on the financial performance of Small and medium enterprises in Lurambi Sub-County. Descriptive survey was used. The population of interest comprised of 450 small and medium enterprises in Lurambi Sub-County. Stratified random sampling was used to select 88 small and medium enterprises. The survey instrument used was questionnaires which were administered to owners and managers. Analysis of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established that sources of business financing affected financial performance of small and medium enterprises significantly; commercial loan financing affected financial performance significantly; retained earnings financing affected financial performance significantly; trade credit financing affected financial performance of small and medium enterprises significantly. The study recommends that small and medium enterprises should make use of commercial loan financing, retained earnings financing and trade credit financing for them to realize higher levels of financial performance. The Government of Kenya should encourage lenders to share the financing risks with the government in order to reduce the cost of financing.

Keywords: Business Financing, commercial loan financing, trade credit, small and medium enterprises