This is a book for ‘anyone who is conducting training courses for people who train, advise and lend money to small enterprises, or for small-business people themselves’.

Many surveys and research papers are written about small enterprises, and very often they consist only of generalized statistics. The is sometimes, however, a need for flesh on the statistical bone and here are 28 case studies from 17 countries which present a selection of the case studies describe what might be called failures. A proportion of small enterprises do fail – one reason why the sector as a whole remains dynamic and able to respond quickly to changing circumstances. Bur the reader should not conclude that the vast majority of enterprises fail, or that any attempts to assist them are bound to make things worse.

The case studies include familiar activities such as garment manufacture, handicrafts and vehicle repair, together with the more unusual such as sculpture, aluminium hollow-ware and a steel-rolling mill. They demonstrate the diversity of small-enterprise activities and the problems. The comments after each case study will, together with the diversity of the case studies themselves, provide stimulating material for students, teachers, and trainers - and those planning to go into business.