Nigeria’s financial framework is considerably bolstered by family-owned companies. From small neighborhood retailers to expansive firms, these entities inject a formidable $200 billion into the nationwide GDP. Nevertheless, regardless of their essential function, household companies typically stay underrecognized and encounter distinct challenges, particularly in accessing capital and managing funds successfully.
This development of household companies as pivotal financial contributors just isn’t confined to Nigeria alone. Globally, they kind the muse of many economies. In India, for instance, household enterprises account for about 79% of the GDP and supply roughly 60% of employment alternatives. A primary instance is Reliance Industries, whose subsidiary, Jio Platforms, owns India’s largest telecom supplier.
Household enterprises account for 70% of GDP in Spain and Mexico, whereas in Italy, the UK, Portugal, and Canada, they contribute over 60% to the nationwide GDPs by way of quite a few family-owned companies throughout numerous sectors. This statistic underscores the worldwide significance and financial impression of family-run companies.
In a associated growth, Moniepoint, a number one monetary service supplier in Nigeria, carried out a case examine on Nigerian household companies. The examine revealed numerous causes behind their success and highlighted sure challenges which are noteworthy.
Credit score serves as a significant lubricant for the financial system, enabling companies to safe mandatory funding for growth and product diversification. Loans have persistently been a vital technique for buying funds to launch a brand new enterprise enterprise or to develop an present one. They supply companies the power to meet short-term monetary wants whereas additionally constructing capability for the long run. Regardless of this, entry to credit score stays out of attain for a lot of firms, notably these which are casual and family-owned.
In response to a 2021 report from The Guardian, which cites the Credit score Bureau Affiliation of Nigeria (CBAN), a mere 4% of an estimated 40 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria have entry to credit score. This shortage of conventional financing choices presents a major problem for household companies, which account for 60% of MSMEs, thus creating a considerable dilemma.
It’s essential to acknowledge that the problem of accessing credit score impacts each people and companies. The Nationwide Bureau of Statistics in Nigeria studies that 70% of checking account holders are unable to entry credit score. Including depth to this, EFInA’s 2023 monetary inclusion survey reveals that solely 6% of Nigerians have formal entry to credit score.
This drawback just isn’t confined to Nigeria. In India, 80% of MSMEs lack entry to credit score from formal monetary establishments, and in Brazil, the determine is 60%. This sample is constant in lots of growing economies.
Furthermore, in response to a case examine by Moniepoint, most companies want to not search exterior funding. As a substitute, they decide to borrow from household, buddies, or take loans from cooperatives moderately than approaching formal monetary establishments. Regardless of the potential for extra substantial help from formal establishments, the challenges in securing loans from these conventional lenders typically hinder these companies from acquiring the required capital for development and growth.
The explanations are fairly easy. Small companies usually lack ample collateral and are considered as larger dangers in comparison with bigger firms.
One other vital hurdle is managing money circulate successfully, which is recognized as one of many prime six causes for SME failures. Though particular knowledge on Nigerian household companies is proscribed, a 2022 KPMG report in Nigeria underscores the widely low adoption of expertise in lots of MSME operations.
Provided that family-owned enterprises predominantly make up the MSME class, they notably really feel the impression of those credit score shortages.
In response to a consultant from a Large 4 consulting agency talked about within the report, the difficulties related to securing loans have led many Nigerians to develop into cautious about taking over credit score or debt. Nevertheless, revolutionary practices are starting to mitigate these points.
The worldwide rise of monetary expertise firms is enhancing entry to monetary companies in revolutionary methods. Initially, these fintechs targeted totally on funds and important banking companies, however they’re now making vital inroads into credit score companies as properly.
A examine carried out between 2014 and 2019 by researchers from Wharton College, McGill College, and the Paris Faculty of Economics revealed a noteworthy development: as soon as fintech firms started lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), there was a 20% improve in financial institution credit score inside six months.
In Indonesia, the eCommerce large Tokopedia launched a credit score scoring division named Tokoscore. This growth has boosted the general credit score viability throughout the nation, facilitating the adoption of Purchase Now Pay Later companies.
In Nigeria, lending to SMEs is growing. Moniepoint, in September 2023, disbursed loans totaling $20 million to varied sized companies, indicating the rising function of fintech firms in offering important capital to Nigerian enterprises.
Amidst escalating inflation, Nigerian fintechs that offer working capital loans are essential for family-owned companies to navigate various market situations, maintain their operations, and pursue development. Moniepoint’s instance illustrates the potential profitability of this market, on condition that household enterprises typically generate strong money flows.
Moreover, fintech firms should not restricted to these offering direct lending. These providing cost options and enterprise banking companies, together with expense playing cards and immediate transaction monitoring, additionally contribute considerably. These companies supply deep insights into expenditure patterns, aiding entrepreneurs in making well-informed monetary decisions.
Apparently, as a result of money scarcity skilled in 2023, an growing variety of family-owned companies have began adopting various cost strategies reminiscent of card funds and financial institution transfers. This shift brings a way of optimism about the way forward for these enterprises.
We’re curious to know if there are different methods you suppose fintech and digital firms might additional improve the expansion of Nigeria’s family-owned companies. We welcome your ideas. Within the meantime, be happy to obtain Moniepoint’s Case Research on Household Companies here