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Cape Town - Small and medium enterprises (SME's) are still not confident that SA’s labour dispensation is conducive to their business’ growth, according to the latest Business Partners SME Index (BPLSI).
South African business owners have, however, expressed continued optimism that conditions will be conducive to business growth in 2014.
The BPLSI measures attitudes and confidence levels amongst local SMEs.
While the confidence levels of whether the current labour laws are conducive to the growth of SA businesses reported a year-on-year increase of 6%, the average recorded for the fourth quarter of 2013 remained low at 39%, said Nazeem Martin, managing director of Business Partners.
“SMEs remain vulnerable to labour laws. While government is aiming to introduce new initiatives, such as grants and incentives, much more needs to be done to ease the impact of perceived onerous labour laws and to cut expensive red tape,” said Martin.
Assessing confidence levels of key aspects affecting SME’s growth prospects, the average confidence levels across all indicators reported both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year increases, which translates to a favourable outlook for SMEs in 2014.
Growth
According to Martin business owners expressed average confidence levels of 76% that their business will grow in the next 12 months.
This is an increase of 3% when compared to the third quarter of 2013, and a 5% increase when compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.
SMEs also conveyed an average confidence level of 55% that the South African economy will be conducive for business growth – a 5% year-on-year increase.
He said while the South African economy experienced some knocks and generally sluggish growth in 2013, the increase in confidence across the board suggests that SMEs believe the economy may have “bottomed out”.
They’ve planned accordingly for the year ahead, taking cognisance of the possible ups and downs their businesses are likely to experience in the next 12 months as the economy recovers.
“This increase in business confidence could also be linked to the weakening rand, which has resulted in windfall gains for SME exporters and SMEs which supply goods and services to large exporters, due to the favourable exchange rate," he said.
"Also, businesses involved in sectors such as tourism, are reaping the rewards of increased numbers of international tourists visiting the country, which is a direct result of the weaker rand.”
Liquidations and insolvencies
Martin said that the recent December 2013 liquidations and insolvencies report by Statistics SA highlights SMEs’ ability to better manage their expenses and debt.
It is a positive sign of how businesses are generally faring. The report revealed that the estimated number of liquidations decreased 26.1% in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012.
The BPLSI also revealed that SME owners surveyed displayed average confidence levels of 50% that the ease of access to business finance will improve in the next 12 months, which is a year-on-year increase of 5%.
“This may be attributed to SMEs having become accustomed to financiers’ more stringent lending criteria, financiers generally displaying a greater appetite for lending, as well as government owned/controlled SME lenders’ readiness – possibly even aggressiveness – in making funding available and accessible to SMEs,” explained Martin.
Confidence in government
Confidence in whether government is doing enough to foster SME development in SA also remains at low levels.
The average confidence levels of 31% recorded for the fourth quarter of 2013, is the same as the previous quarter.
“This stagnant and low confidence levels highlight the need for more national initiatives to be implemented that will promote entrepreneurship and support small business," said Martin.
"However, the inertia associated with the looming 2014 elections and the changes in cabinet ministers and senior civil servants which usually follows, means that new ideas for fostering entrepreneurship may arise, but will in all likelihood only be implemented late during 2014.”
When surveyed on what type of assistance SMEs require from government, 35% of respondents cited direct funding, 18% indicated less red tape and 19% indicated tax breaks.
When asked what the main challenges SMEs are likely to face in the next six months, 33% cited economic conditions, followed by cash flow and funding with 27% and 16% respectively.
“While the World Bank originally forecast economic growth of 3.2% for South Africa in 2014, the figure was revised to 2.7% last week and the general consensus amongst economists is that growth may average even lower at between 2.0% and 2.5%," said Martin.
"This illustrates the unpredictable and fragile nature of economic conditions and the local economic recovery, as well as the difficulties SMEs face in their planning for circumstances over which they have no control.”
Encouraging
Martin said that the overall increased confidence levels are encouraging.
“The fact that the survey revealed year-on-year increases for all areas of importance for their businesses, illustrates the willingness and positive mind-set required from SME entrepreneurs to take risk, grow their businesses and play their role in generating wealth and creating job opportunities in South Africa," he said.
“Government, big business and other stakeholders should seize this opportunity by committing to, and tangibly displaying this commitment to the promotion and facilitation of entrepreneurship in general, especially in the SME sector."
"Over and above easing the red tape associated with business compliance and tax breaks, government and big business should seek to create market opportunities for SMEs,” said Martin.
South African business owners have, however, expressed continued optimism that conditions will be conducive to business growth in 2014.
The BPLSI measures attitudes and confidence levels amongst local SMEs.
While the confidence levels of whether the current labour laws are conducive to the growth of SA businesses reported a year-on-year increase of 6%, the average recorded for the fourth quarter of 2013 remained low at 39%, said Nazeem Martin, managing director of Business Partners.
“SMEs remain vulnerable to labour laws. While government is aiming to introduce new initiatives, such as grants and incentives, much more needs to be done to ease the impact of perceived onerous labour laws and to cut expensive red tape,” said Martin.
Assessing confidence levels of key aspects affecting SME’s growth prospects, the average confidence levels across all indicators reported both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year increases, which translates to a favourable outlook for SMEs in 2014.
Growth
According to Martin business owners expressed average confidence levels of 76% that their business will grow in the next 12 months.
This is an increase of 3% when compared to the third quarter of 2013, and a 5% increase when compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.
SMEs also conveyed an average confidence level of 55% that the South African economy will be conducive for business growth – a 5% year-on-year increase.
He said while the South African economy experienced some knocks and generally sluggish growth in 2013, the increase in confidence across the board suggests that SMEs believe the economy may have “bottomed out”.
They’ve planned accordingly for the year ahead, taking cognisance of the possible ups and downs their businesses are likely to experience in the next 12 months as the economy recovers.
“This increase in business confidence could also be linked to the weakening rand, which has resulted in windfall gains for SME exporters and SMEs which supply goods and services to large exporters, due to the favourable exchange rate," he said.
"Also, businesses involved in sectors such as tourism, are reaping the rewards of increased numbers of international tourists visiting the country, which is a direct result of the weaker rand.”
Liquidations and insolvencies
Martin said that the recent December 2013 liquidations and insolvencies report by Statistics SA highlights SMEs’ ability to better manage their expenses and debt.
It is a positive sign of how businesses are generally faring. The report revealed that the estimated number of liquidations decreased 26.1% in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared with the fourth quarter of 2012.
The BPLSI also revealed that SME owners surveyed displayed average confidence levels of 50% that the ease of access to business finance will improve in the next 12 months, which is a year-on-year increase of 5%.
“This may be attributed to SMEs having become accustomed to financiers’ more stringent lending criteria, financiers generally displaying a greater appetite for lending, as well as government owned/controlled SME lenders’ readiness – possibly even aggressiveness – in making funding available and accessible to SMEs,” explained Martin.
Confidence in government
Confidence in whether government is doing enough to foster SME development in SA also remains at low levels.
The average confidence levels of 31% recorded for the fourth quarter of 2013, is the same as the previous quarter.
“This stagnant and low confidence levels highlight the need for more national initiatives to be implemented that will promote entrepreneurship and support small business," said Martin.
"However, the inertia associated with the looming 2014 elections and the changes in cabinet ministers and senior civil servants which usually follows, means that new ideas for fostering entrepreneurship may arise, but will in all likelihood only be implemented late during 2014.”
When surveyed on what type of assistance SMEs require from government, 35% of respondents cited direct funding, 18% indicated less red tape and 19% indicated tax breaks.
When asked what the main challenges SMEs are likely to face in the next six months, 33% cited economic conditions, followed by cash flow and funding with 27% and 16% respectively.
“While the World Bank originally forecast economic growth of 3.2% for South Africa in 2014, the figure was revised to 2.7% last week and the general consensus amongst economists is that growth may average even lower at between 2.0% and 2.5%," said Martin.
"This illustrates the unpredictable and fragile nature of economic conditions and the local economic recovery, as well as the difficulties SMEs face in their planning for circumstances over which they have no control.”
Encouraging
Martin said that the overall increased confidence levels are encouraging.
“The fact that the survey revealed year-on-year increases for all areas of importance for their businesses, illustrates the willingness and positive mind-set required from SME entrepreneurs to take risk, grow their businesses and play their role in generating wealth and creating job opportunities in South Africa," he said.
“Government, big business and other stakeholders should seize this opportunity by committing to, and tangibly displaying this commitment to the promotion and facilitation of entrepreneurship in general, especially in the SME sector."
"Over and above easing the red tape associated with business compliance and tax breaks, government and big business should seek to create market opportunities for SMEs,” said Martin.
