Factors Affecting the Growth of Micro and Small Enterprises: A Case of Tailoring and Dressmaking Enterprises in Eldoret

Abstract

The study was set to determine and analyze the factors that affect the growth of tailoring and dressmaking enterprises in Eldoret. The tailoring and dressmaking enterprises studied were appraised with respect to the characteristics of the owner managers and their enterprises. It revealed that most of the tailoring and dressmaking enterprises were in disengagement stage either not growing or having a slight growth. Inadequacy of availability of finances, poor business management skills, poor marketing and entrepreneurial attribute of the owner managers were found to be statistically significant in determining growth of these enterprises. The study recommends that the Government, other business support organizations and stakeholders should team up and develop training programmes aimed at providing management skills to the owner-managers of these enterprises, and help avail financial assistance which could be channeled through SME associations or groups that need to be formed to champion their common cause.