Research Journal of Finance and Accounting www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1697 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2847 (Online) Vol.8, No.15, 2017 1 Factors Hampering the Entrepreneurial Growth and Development:A Study Conducted in Sodo Town in Woliaita Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia ALEMAYEHU ELDA Wolaita Sodo University, College of Business and Economics, Department of Management, Wolaita Sodo,Ethiopia Abstract Since Mid-2000s, Ethiopia has been one of the fastest growing countries in the World. However, productive entrepreneurship in high – value added activities have made limited contribution of this growth because of a weak business environment. But their entrepreneurial knowledge, skill, managerial ability are very low. Because of reflecting these facts. The study was utilized causal research design to achieve the research objectives. The target population under study was 240. The study was conducted between Nonmembers to June 2017. In this study, Primary and secondary data types and sources was used. The instruments to collect primary data were questionnaires and interviews. Sample size of 150 respondents out of 240 entrepreneurs from the total population. To determine the required sample size, stratified random sampling technique was utilized. The data collected was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The major and entrepreneurs performance determinants were financial support, technological factors, Education and training, Personal Characteristics, Access to physical infrastructure, market factors and politico-legal factors. This above identified factors explained the variance of 46.1 % of entrepreneur performance determinants. Keywords: - Entrepreneurs Development, Affecting Factors INTRODUCTION This study seeks to explore the determinants that hampering the entrepreneur’s growth and development in Wolaita Zone sodo town. The study focuses in Wolaita Sodo town. It targeted an entrepreneurs who currently operating in the Wolaita Zone sodo town. The study by Konji, 1972 showed that the Success in today’s creative and innovative environment is increasingly a function of effective entrepreneur activity. Even though so many factors force the economy of the country to have a slow growth, one of the factors attributed to slow growth of the economy and lack of entrepreneurial development could be the main one According to the research by Andualem, (2004). NuriKedir, (1976) Entrepreneurship has a far reaching role in socio-economic development studies based on this area has been neglected in Ethiopia, which left a strong impact on the economy Ethiopia is a country, which approximately as a population of 90 million. Some of the most critical constraints raised at different forms include access to finance, access to premises a land, infrastructure, training in entrepreneurial and management skill and information availability in business opportunities. According to Gebrehiwot Ageba and Welday Ameha. Ethiopian Development Research, June 2004, it became imperative to re-examine the current approaches to promote commercialization of innovative ideas and develop enterprises, and assess the potential roles, challenges and opportunities of business incubation systems strategy and other tools in stimulating techno entrepreneurship and fostering industrial development in Ethiopia. Thus the aforementioned persistence problems call for a thorough investigation toward identifying the root causes of these problems and uncovering some other obstacles(if any) and potential opportunities overlooked mainly by the governing authorities While starting a new business entrepreneurs face so many challenges; such as instability, stress, negative mindset, overwhelming feelings, lack of support, feelings of wanting to give up, growing a business, problems of raw material, problems relating to marketing, outdated technology, lack of infrastructural facilities, lack of skilled labors etc. In order to conduct an efficient business an entrepreneur must overcome the challenges. The main objectives of the study are to identify the challenges faced by the new entrepreneurs and to analyze the measures to overcome them. Statement of the Problem Besides, Ethiopia has a latent mass of trainable workforce, a large base of educated workers, potential innovators, who would contribute towards private sector job creation through research and development (R&D) and innovation (starting commercial enterprises), yet little has been achieved to this end (Desta Solomon March 2009). Many Ethiopian training institutions and agencies have focused on training entrepreneurship and technical courses, business plan competitions for graduate students and entrepreneurs, but there is little further