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As the 3D printing industry continues to gain momentum in South Africa's SME sector, issues about their financing and financial management need to be investigated. This is due to the capital-intensive nature of the business as well as the financing challenges encountered by 3D printing SMMEs. This study aimed to contribute to research on financial management practices and sources of finance as predictors of performance for 3D printing small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in terms of profitability and increase in client base. The study adopted the interpretivist research paradigm, exploratory research design, inductive research approach and qualitative research method to achieve the objectives of the study. A total of twenty (20) 3D printing firms participated in the study. Employees and managers were purposefully selected to participate in the study. The participants comprised finance managers, senior managers and managers of the twenty (20) 3D printing firms that participated in the study. Structured interviews served as the instrument for data collection based on the objectives of the study. Data gathered from interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that effective working capital management practices boost the profitability of 3D printing SMMEs, particularly through adopting no-credit policies and hiring competent finance officers. These practices also help expand the client base by ensuring timely delivery of products and services, with customer relationship management being a strategic approach. The study also revealed that liquidity management practices significantly boost the profitability of 3D printing firms by ensuring sufficient cash flow to meet financial obligations, managing financial risks, and ensuring timely product delivery, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and contributing to growth in the customer base. The study recommends the need for 3D printing SMMEs to prioritise cash flow management and develop robust systems to monitor and control working capital components, including inventory, receivables, and payables.  

Given the critical role of financial characteristics in determining Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs’) access to debt finance, it is essential to understand how these characteristics influence lending decisions, particularly from a developing market context. This study aims to examine the key financial characteristics that significantly influence MSEs’ ability to access debt finance. Using systematic sampling technique, we collect data from 171 Ghanaian MSEs that are registered with Ghana Enterprise Agency. The data was analyzed using SPSS linear regression version 24. The result shows financial management experience and profitability as the significant financial characteristics that influence MSEs ability to access debt finance. The result further shows that equity structure and financial statement have negative significant influence on MSEs ability to access debt finance. Asset tangibility, liquidity, debt service coverage ratio, and working capital has no significant influence on MSEs’ access to debt financing.

This study examines the correlation between inventory and accounts payable management and the profitability of construction companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The annual financial statements of all 13 listed construction businesses from 2009 to 2019, including statements of financial position and financial performance, were obtained from an external database for statistical analysis. The study employed multiple linear regression to assess the impact of working capital management on the financial performance of construction companies listed on the JSE. Additionally, a correlation model was utilised to investigate any potential relationships among the variables being examined. The study's findings indicate that the management of working capital has a notable impact on the profitability of construction companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in South Africa. Despite contradicting findings from other studies that support the opposite conclusion, this study demonstrates that effective management of working capital does not necessarily lead to a positive relationship with financial performance for financial managers of construction companies. Therefore, it is crucial to consider other aspects of management in addition to working capital.