**Research questions:**

What is the impact of Quality Management on the business performance of SMMEs in KwaZulu-Natal?

The research design explored the correlation between two variables, the impact of quality standards and business performance. Sekaran and Bougie [36] argued that a correlation research design describes how a change in one variable brings about another. This study adopted an exploratory research design defined 'as a valuable means to ask open questions to discover what is happening and to gain acumens about a subject matter' Saunders et al. [37].

According to Pizzo [38], the target population is the group of elements the researcher wants to infer, at least theoretically, the population is finite and can be counted. The study targeted SMMEs from the 10 extensive suburbs and townships within the Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA). Two SMMEs were randomly selected from each suburb to reach a total number of twenty collected samples. In order to meet the objectives of the study, data was gathered using questionnaires from a sample of 20 SMMEs. Two questionnaires were designed and distributed separately to 10 certified and non-certified SMMEs, making 20 altogether.
