The Role of Notaries in MSME Business Formalization: A Systematic Literature Review with Descriptive Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The role of notaries has become increasingly important in supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through business formalization, legal certainty, and regulatory compliance. However, research on this topic remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This study aims to examine the development, bibliometric characteristics, and future research opportunities concerning the role of notaries in MSME business formalization. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) combined with descriptive bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database. The search employed the query TITLE-ABS-KEY ((notary OR notarial OR notarization OR "legal service*") AND ("small business*" OR SME* OR MSME* OR entrepreneur* OR entrepreneurship)), resulting in 90 journal articles published between 2015 and 2025. Bibliometric characteristics were analyzed using Scopus Analyze Search Results, including publication trends, source titles, authors, affiliations, countries, document types, subject areas, and funding sponsors. The findings indicate a gradual increase in publications over the last decade, although research output remains relatively limited. The literature is dispersed across journals, authors, institutions, and countries, suggesting that this field is still in an emerging stage. The dominant subject areas are Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities, while European institutions and funding agencies contribute most of the existing research. Recent studies increasingly address digital legal services, LegalTech, governance, and entrepreneurship; however, only a limited number explicitly investigate the contribution of notarial institutions to MSME business formalization. This study identifies significant theoretical, empirical, and geographical gaps and proposes future research directions focusing on digital notarial services, legal innovation, comparative legal systems, and interdisciplinary approaches to strengthen the role of notaries in supporting sustainable MSME development.