Make sure your business plan contains a clear, concise financial plan. This also means describing how you will spread investments and equity.
In the Netherlands, there are also numerous public-sector financing options. These include incentive schemes for startups, innovation and international trade in the form of either subsidies or tax benefits. Schemes are available from local, regional, provincial, national and even European government bodies.
Additional capital and project funding options
You may need additional capital while you're setting up a business or once it starts growing. Or perhaps you require funding for a specific project. There are numerous organisations in the Netherlands that can help you look for startup or scale-up funding, or funding for your starting or expanding business. They'll explore the possibilities on your behalf and will introduce you to potential investors or other sources of funding. Dutch national and regional organisations and possibilities include:
- Funding from regional development corporations
- Funding from venture capital companies
- Crowdfunding
- Seed capital for innovative businesses
- Business angels (private investors)
- Stock exchange for SMBs (NPEX)
- SME Loan Guarantee Scheme
- Proof-of-Concept Funding
Interactive tool for financing of international plans
Try this interactive online tool to check whether your application for financing or export credit insurance is viable in just five minutes. The tool has been created for entrepreneurs with plans to import, export, invest or expand abroad.
Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and foreign investors
If your company attracts a foreign investor, for example in the form of an equity stake, you should contact your bank before the investment is actually made. This will enable the bank to carry out the Customer Due Diligence (CDD) process correctly, as is their obligation under (amongst others) the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act (Wwft). Part of this process is gaining insight into money flows (from abroad) and, sometimes, the organisations and persons involved.
If a new foreign investor becomes involved in your company, and the ownership structure of your business might change as a consequence, you will have to inform the bank of these changes beforehand. The bank will then inform you of the information or documentation it needs to carry out their CDD policy. This also enables you to prepare for the actual investment by a foreign party in your business. You can start collecting the necessary information yourself, while requesting part of the information from the intended investor. This may prevent delays and disappointments in the process later on.
