Abstract:
In Tanzania, despite the crucial role that small
businesses play in the economy, their sustainability is
often threatened by several factors, which remain
inadequately understood to date. This study aimed to
assess the factors affecting the sustainability of small
businesses (SMEs) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The
study employed survey approach, where both secondary
and primary data were collected from existing and closed
small enterprises. The area of the study was selected
based on the concentration and size of small enterprises.
The sample size consisted of 85 small enterprises,
including 80 existing and 5 closed businesses. A
systematic random sampling procedure was used to
select the respondents to be included in the study. The
collected data was analyzed using appropriate
descriptive statistics techniques. The empirical study
produced key external and internal influences that
appeared to distress the sustainability of small
enterprises. Management and political factors emerged
as the primary external influences, while financial
factors revealed dual internal and external impacts. The
findings underscore the critical role of addressing
management and financial challenges to ensure the
longevity of small enterprises.
