Access to Finance

Ownership equity is the most common form of financing when setting up a business in Belgium. At first, it is the starting capital invested in the company by its owner. Subsequently, it can also be generated earnings that are reinvested in the company.

If the ownership equity is not sufficient to start the company, different types of long and short-term credits may be granted on the basis of a detailed Business Plan.

Having sufficient ownership equity is one of the conditions of obtaining a credit. Financial institutions establish a link between the ownership equity and external means to determine "personal placement" and whether to grant a loan or not.

In addition to intangible investment (time, work, reflection, creation, etc.), initial funds are always provided by the project initiator and their family and friends. However, having recourse to family and friends for financing is not without risk and can lead to numerous tensions, especially if the project fails.

Resources

The Partnership Fund is a federal institution that supports independent companies. It is aimed at start-ups (companies that are less than 4 years old), self-employed entrepreneurs, freelancers and SMEs.

The products of this Partnership Fund are distributed via banks and financial institutions with whom an agreement is in place. This enables the start-up, self-employed entrepreneur, or SME, who would like to apply to the Fund to do so through their own bank.

If all the conditions are met, the bank introduces a request for the Participation Fund.

The following elements are taken into consideration when assessing the credit file:

• the project's chances of success, financially, economically and technically;
• the professional competence and integrity of the applicant;
• the quality of the company;
• the viability and financial structure of the company;
• the repayment capabilities.

Participation Funds

Aids that are specific to Brussels:

The Brussels Enterprise Agency (BEA)

Portal for aid in the Brussels-Capital region (FR)

Regional Society for Investment in Brussels (SRIB) (FR)

Aids that are specific to Wallonia:

Sowalfin, financial one-stop shop for SMEs in the Walloon region (FR)

Walloon region "Enterprises" (FR)

Aids that are specific to Flanders:

ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen (NL)

Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT)

Certain Chambers of Commerce also finance innovative projects or put start-up entrepreneurs in touch with potential partners.

Official information and services on financing methods in Belgium

The Belgian Knowledge Centre for SME Financing (BeCeFi)has a double objective: it centralises essential information and provides "Human Capital" to become a national reference centre for SME financing.

BeCeFi

Personalised help and advice

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local partners.

Enterprise Europe Network – contact points – Belgium

Business support organisations can advise businesses on how to find financing.

Business support — Belgium

Source: European Commission