Many participants stated that access to finance is the main bone of contention which often leads to the high SMME failure rate. They mentioned that banks deem SMMEs too risky to be granted loans because of insufficient start up capital and inadequate collateral. Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are criticised for poor visibility and little or no communication strategy. There is also no information provided to communities about the roles and responsibilities of these institutions and what is required to access funds. Those who are aware of the DFIs are unhappy with the customer service ethos at DFI offices and the cumbersome processes that discourage applicants.