Emerging entrepreneurs have raised concerns that the rapidly changing economic environment is making trading difficult.

The entrepreneurs, running small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME), also expressed fears about financial institutions extending credit to their businesses as the country is in an interest rates rising cycle.

This was contained in the Business Partners Limited SME Index released yesterday and measured the attitudes and confidence levels of local SMME owners in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Business Partners chief financial officer Ben Bierman said the index revealed a 6% decline in confidence levels that the domestic economy will be conducive for business growth in the next 12 months.

"A vital part for any SME's growth and sustainability is access to funding, and these confidence levels reveal that the average SME owner is concerned about being able to access bridging capital or financing to ensure that their businesses ride out this economic storm in the next six to nine months," he said.