Factors influencing SMEs’ capital structure: a comparative analysis from Turkey

ABSTRACT This paper aims to analyse the factors affecting SMEs’ capital structure decisions with a comparative analysis covering SMEs of different sizes in Turkey from 2007 to 2018. According to the study results, no significant difference is observed based on firm size. Secondly, as SMEs’ assets grow and efficiency increases, their financial debt also rises. Asset growth leads to long-term debt, while efficiency increase generates short-term borrowing. However, as profitability increases, long-term borrowing decreases. The findings show that SMEs try to meet their financing needs with internal resources, acting in alignment with the pecking order theory. Thirdly, no relationship is identified between financial debt and SMEs’ liquidity strength, risk, and asset structure. This finding likely indicates that SMEs do not act with financial stress or agency costs in mind. That is, they do not act in alignment with the trade-off theory.