SME - finance in South Africa

SMEs in South Africa often feel very despondent about finance. They honestly believe that there is no funding available.However, nothing could be further from the truth. We recently launched a website ( http://www.business-funding.co.za ) to help people with funding, and list approximately 13 different types of funding. Based on the emails we receive it is clear that a vast majority of SMEs have no clue about the different types of finance, when it should be used, how it should be used and why!!! I find that many lecturers themselves do not understand this and often perpetuate this lack of understanding by continuing to spew out nonsense when lecturing on the topic. This blog is intended to try and educate the SME at large on finance. Finance is also a dynamic industry and new products are released which further complicate matters. I do not subscribe to the claim of a shortage of funding. I subscribe to the belief that there is a lack of understanding of finance. I also believe that banks are also victims of things like the National Credit Act which has most definitely impacted on access to growth finance by SMEs. So hopefully this site will contribute to an improved understanding by SMEs, thereby increasing their access to finance.