Abstract:
This study examines factors that correlate with the demand for investment funds among small and medium-size enterprise (SMEs). The projects objectives were to study the levels of demand for financing and the factors that were associated with various levels of demand for funding sources supporting the development of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) by new entrepreneurs in Suratthani province.
The research project collected data from 287 new SME owners in Suratthani province who had registered their businesses in the business development office of Surattani province in the period from January to December 2013. The businesses studied had registered capital of no more than 5 million baht. Data were analyzed in terms of percentages and averages. The t-test, F-test, and Spearmans r were also utilized
The research results showed the following:
1. The largest segment of entrepreneurs of small and medium-size enterprise (SMEs) in Suratthani were males aged between 26 and 35 years old. Among the remaining personal factors, the largest segments included having graduated with a Bachelors degree, being married, having 2 children, and having 1-5 years of previous business management experience.
2. In regard to the business ventures themselves, the largest segment of responses pertained to businesses that had been established by means of investments shared with family members or relatives in a kind of limited partnership. Among the other factors measured, the most significant segments included having 11-15 employees, having contact with banks or other financial institutions 2-3 times per month, and having the lack of capital pose a problem or obstacle in accessing financial institutions funding resources.
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3. The social capital of the entrepreneurs of small and medium-size enterprise (SMEs) was high in all dimensions. From greatest to least, according to the data averages, these included the dimension of harmony and conflict in the community, the dimension of activity and cooperation, the dimension of groups and networks, the dimension of trust, and the dimension of authority and political involvement.
4. Most of the entrepreneurs surveyed had invisted primarily their own funds. A smaller segment obtained investment funding from commercial banks, and a still smaller segment accessed funding form other financial institutions.
5. Gender had no significant effect on entrepreneurs need for investment funding. Differences correlating with other factors, such as differences in age, education, marital status, and experience in business management, had statistical significance at .05 percent.
6. The borrowing needs of small and medium-size enterprise (SMEs) also varied depending on whether the business was still run by its founder, the number of shares or partners in the enterprise, the characteristics of the chief executive, the type of business, the number of employees, the frequency of contact with the bank or other financial institution, and on whether the business had encountered problems or barriers in accessing the funding sources. All of these factors had a statistical significance of .05.
7. Social capital factors such as the dimension of activity and cooperation, the dimension of harmony and conflict in the community, and the dimension of authority and political involvement all correlated positively with seeking funds from all categories of funding sources. Especially important was the social capital dimensions of authority and political involvement, which had a highly positive association with obtaining capital sources from commercial banks or other financial institutions. Furthermore, social capital in the area of group and networks and the dimension of trust was positively correlated with seeking access to funds, specifically including funds from family or relatives, friends, commercial banks, and other funding institutions.
WALAILAK UNIVERSITY. CENTER FOR LIBRARY RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL MEDIA