Banking credit remains relatively the most accessible external source of financing small and medium enterprises. This is due to the fact that there is virtually no alternative form of financing (such as bond issues or others not resulting in the creation the entrepreneur' liabilities with respect to the bank) to the most extensive offer of commercial banks for small businesses.

Given the above facts, small and medium-sized businesses are forced to use credit lines on terms imposed by banks which, in turn, require full creditworthiness from their clients (translating into the necessity to submit collateral for the full amount of credit with interest, despite having creditworthiness throughout the crediting period).

As shown by research, the securing of good, from the bank's perspective, credit collateral, is one of the major obstacles to entrepreneurs taking advantage of offers developed by financial institutions. In this context, the idea of mutual guarantee schemes seems to provide at least a partial solution to the problem.

Mutual Guarantee Schemes, often referred to as MGS, are institutions established by entrepreneurs (sometimes grouped in federations or chambers of industry), banks, as well as by small and medium-sized enterprises. They operate as private businesses at the points where three equal partners coincide: enterprises, banks and the public sector. They also combine the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, directly and indirectly, provide the entrepreneurs with an opportunity to take part in fund management (and thus have impact on the directions of economic growth), through making use of personal experience for the benefit of the growth of other businesses.

This solution also offers more than just financial benefits. It contributes to building solidarity among entrepreneurs who, acting jointly, have an opportunity to propose certain systemic solutions to accelerate growth and improve the operating conditions of small and medium-sized businesses.

The idea of establishing mutual guarantee schemes in Poland seems real and promises improvement in the standing of businesses looking for capital to finance, for example, necessary investments to nurture higher effectiveness and competitiveness.

The analysis indicates that Poland, applying for the EU membership, will be more likely to take a greater account in its policy of this solution in providing financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises operating in countries with a developed market-economy, as displayed by the recent government initiative - Capital for the entrepreneurial.