Ndjeck, 2022a

Alternative Sources of Funding for SMEs in Cameroon

A Theoretical Evaluation

Synopsis

The funding of SMEs is a real problem mainly in poor countries where it is difficult to get financial resources, but also almost impossible to cover an asset intended to be used in the company for years by a resource of the same duration. SMEs like any company seeking to survive and develop explores new ways to achieve secure funding. As banks hardly finance SMEs, they have to resort to alternative funding which is essentially short-term.

To inform SMEs of the range of alternative funding methods and to guide them in their choice, we thought it necessary to carry out a theoretical assessment of alternative funding for SMEs.

This assessment may be a new start in their fundraising strategies. As victims of the severe rationing of bank credit, SMEs mainly resort to short-term alternative funding: tontines, microfinance institutions, family help, help from friends, inter-company credit, associations, contributions of partners, leasing institutions, capital increases, disposals of fixed assets, venture capital companies and individuals. Meanwhile, SMEs sould fund both long and medium-term needs ans well as hort-term needs. It is therefore necessary to assess alternative funding for SMEs to fully understand the extent to which they can be resorted to cover their needs. This assessment also offers solutions calling on several actors of the economy.

Preface

Foreword

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter I
Permanent formal alternative funding for SMEs
1.1. Leasing
1.1.1. Presentation of leasing
1.1.2. Assessment of funding by leasing
1.1.2.1. The strengths of finance leasing
1.1.2.2. The weaknesses of leasing
1.2. Venture capital companies and contributions by partners or individual operators
1.2.1. Venture capital companies
1.2.2. Contributions from partners or entrepreneurs

Chapter II
Short-term formal funding for SMEs
2.1. Microfinance in the official sector
2.1.1. Presenting the official sector microfinance in Cameroon
2.1.2. The evaluation of formal microfinance
2.2. Inter-company credit
2.2.1. The measurement and cost of inter-company credit
2.2.2. The reasons for intercompany credit

Chapter III
Informal funding of SMEs
3.1. Informal funding mechanisms
3.1.1. Collective practices
3.1.1.1. The social tontine
3.1.1.2. The financial tontine
3.1.2. Individual practices
3.1.2.1. The commercial tontine, help from relatives and the loan of money
3.1.2.2. The contract and the “purchase and sale of movable property”
3.2. The evaluation of informal funding
3.2.1. Collective practices
3.2.1.1. The advantages of collective practices
3.2.1.2. The limits of collective practices
3.2.2. The strengths and weaknesses of individual practices
3.2.2.1. The strengths of individual practices
3.2.2.2. The weaknesses of individual practices

Chapter IV
Implications of the theoretical evaluation of alternative funding of SMEs in Cameroon
4.1. Search for bank funding by SMEs
4.1.1. The resolution of the problem of information asymmetry
4.1.2. Risk reduction
4.2. Knowing SMEs and cleaning the macro-environment
4.2.1. Specific financial analysis of SMEs
4.2.2. Remediation of the macro environment

Annex

Alternative funding methods in Cameroon

References