Hamburg Credit for Start-ups and Succession
Favorable loan for business start-ups and company succession in Hamburg with guarantees up to 70% and repayment grants for the creation of training positions. Applications can be submitted at any time through the house bank.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
Financing of investments and working capital for start-ups and business successions in Hamburg under favorable and risk-appropriate conditions.
Eligible expenses
- Investment costs
- Operating costs
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Application submission through the house bank before the start of the project
- Companies or freelancers active on the market for no longer than 5 years
- Standard bank collateral for the loan (securities)
- Compliance with the ESG exclusion list
Documents required for application
- Business plan
- Financing plan
- Standard banking documents
- Declaration of compliance with the ESG exclusion list
Evaluation criteria
- Economic viability of the project
- Creditworthiness of the applicant
- Availability of customary bank securities
- Equity contribution
Description
Hamburg Credit for Start-ups and Succession supports founders, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commercial sector, freelancers, as well as other service providers who establish or take over a business in Hamburg and have been active on the market for no longer than five years. The aim is to finance investments and working capital under favorable, risk-appropriate conditions in the areas of business financing, training & further education, and consulting. The loan offers a term of up to 120 months and covers up to 100% of eligible expenses. Through default guarantees from the Hamburg Guarantee Bank of up to 70%, collateral requirements can be reduced. Specifically, in the crafts sector, a repayment grant of up to €5,000 is provided if a training position is created and filled within five years. The maximum loan amount is €1,000,000 per borrower.
Applications are submitted continuously through the respective house bank before the start of the project; customary bank securities and compliance with the ESG exclusion list are prerequisites. All economically viable investment and working capital costs in any ratio are eligible for funding. Selection is based on criteria such as the economic viability of the project, creditworthiness of the applicants, available collateral, and the equity contribution. Documentation for review includes a business plan, financing plan, customary bank proofs, and a declaration of ESG compliance. From 01.01.2025, the funding guideline applies, enabling the house bank to review corresponding loan applications at any time and ensuring sustainable, risk-appropriate support for start-ups and takeovers in Hamburg. A digital application via eApplication through the house bank further simplifies the process.