Financial bootstrapping and the small business sector in a developing economy

Abstract

The assumption in academic literature and public debate is that lack of financial resources generally restrains small businesses’ development and growth. With the constraints that small businesses face to access outside funding, there is a need to investigate bootstrapping as a means of obtaining resources which will lead to a reduction in the need for outside financing. The challenge facing small businesses in terms of obtaining finance from traditional sources has necessitated this study. A sample was chosen on a non-probability basis using convenience sampling of small business owners within the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 83 participants completed the questionnaire. The data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings regarding awareness of financial bootstrapping as a source of funding remains unknown. The evidence in the study shows that a number of respondents unknowingly used some of the bootstrapping methods.