This research aims to investigate factors affecting the performance of MSEs with a special emphasizes on textile and garment, food processing and wood and metal work sectors in Arada and Lideta sub-cities, Addis Ababa. For the sake of achieving the objectives of this study, questionnaires were analyzed using statistical analysis such as descriptive and inferential analyses. The information gleaned through questionnaire from a sample of 237 operators and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 operators of MSEs. The respondent operators were selected using stratified sampling technique. Besides, the interview questions were analyzed using descriptive narrations through concurrent triangulation strategy. The empirical study elicited eight major challenges which seem to affect performance of MSEs in sub-cities which include: inadequate finance, lack of working premises, marketing problems, inadequate infrastructures, poor management practices, and technological, entrepreneurial and politico-legal problems including bureaucratic bottlenecks system. The findings further indicate that, there exists linear and positive significant ranging from substantial to strong relationship was found between independent variables and dependent variable. Moreover, the selected independent variables may significantly explain the variations in the dependent variable at 1% level of significance. Based on findings, recommendations to government bodies, to operators of MSEs and suggestions for other researchers are forwarded.rnKey words: MSEs, performance, factors