Microcredit: loans up to €50,000

With a microcredit of up to 50,000 euros you can achieve your dream and start your own company. Or you use the loan for expansion or an acquisition. We list what you should pay attention to when applying for a microcredit.

Applying for a small loan through a bank can be difficult. The Qredits Foundation is an independent financier especially for (starting) entrepreneurs. Qredits looks at your plans through a positive lense. And helps with microcredit, coaching, and tools.

What is microcredit?

A microcredit is a loan of up to 50,000 euros for starting and existing entrepreneurs. For freelancers and SMEs. The term of the loan is 1 to 10 years.

Coaching and tools

Qredits offers (free) coaching when you apply for credit. For example, the coach helps you with advice on marketing and sales, or finance and administration. Are you looking for a coach to help you write your business plan? Then you pay a fee. And Qredits has free tools for your business plan, such as a template and a (digital) course.

Applying for microcredit

To apply for microcredit (in Dutch), you need a thorough business plan. It does not have to be 30 pages long, but it should clearly outline your plans. Your business plan should also include a detailed financial plan. Finally, you also have to demonstrate keen entrepreneurial skills, such as commercial insight and perseverance.

Video: Appropriate financing

In this video, a business owner explains how she got the funding she needed for her business thanks to microcredit.

For English subtitels to the video below, click the Settings wheel, click 'Ondertiteling', and select 'Engels' (English).

Lower interest rates for social entrepreneurs

If you run a business with social or community objectives, you may be eligible for credit for social entrepreneurs (in Dutch). This will lower the interest rate you have to pay on your microcredit loan. To qualify, you have to meet several criteria:

• The main objective of your business is to have a social impact. You have set concrete, quantifiable social objectives. These objectives have a social impact and solve a social, environmental, or community problem.
• Your business is not just about organising a one-off event.
• You reinvest most of the profits from your business into achieving its social objective.
• You participate in an annual survey, sharing the social results you have managed to achieve with Qredits.

Increase your chances of funding

Review the evaluation criteria before submitting your credit application. If you find that your score for a particular criterion is not high enough, adjust your business plan or operations or explore alternatives in advance.

Enlisting help will increase your odds of obtaining funding, credit, or a loan. With the right adviser and a good financial rationale, you are more likely to get your application approved. These advisers will help you get started.

More types of financing

Visit our overview of ‘Alternative financing’ for more ways to get money for your business. You can also watch our video on Financing your business The video explains how to get financing for your business and what steps you need to take.