PROBLEMS IN IMPROVING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

This thesis examines the key challenges that limit the competitiveness of small businesses and outlines scientific solutions to address them. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the majority of global businesses and contribute significantly to employment and innovation. However, their growth is often restricted by limited access to finance, weak technological capacity, managerial inefficiencies, regulatory burdens, and poor integration into markets. Drawing on current data and international case studies, this research identifies proven strategies to overcome these barriers. These include financial reforms, digital transformation, management training, simplified regulations, and participation in business clusters. Successful examples from Germany, South Korea, and Estonia demonstrate the impact of supportive policies and innovation-driven ecosystems. The findings emphasize the need for coordinated efforts between government, industry, and institutions to build a more resilient and competitive SME sector. This work contributes to policy design and academic understanding of sustainable small business development.