In this paper we look into earlier empirical research on the barriers to electronic commerce (EC) for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). We look into research conducted in the context of information and communications technologies (ICT) in general, as well as EDI and Internet based EC. We divide the barriers, inhibitors or factors slowing down the diffusion of new technologies found in literature into those internal to an organization, and those imposed by external forces. The basic premise of this paper is, that technologies advance or change, but the barriers for SMEs to adopt them do not.