Public loans and guarantees to start or take over a business
Published on 10 October 2026 · Updated on 10 October 2026
In short
A business start-up loan from the SNCI in Luxembourg is financing from the SNCI, the public investment bank, which co-funds start-ups, takeovers and investments alongside the company’s bank through proStart, proDevelop, proInnovate and proTransfer. The Mutualité de cautionnement of the Chamber of Commerce, or the SME one for crafts, guarantees up to 50% of the bank loan.
How the financing fits together
- Personal contribution: the SNCI generally asks for a share of equity in the financing plan.
- Bank loan: the bank remains the main contact and reviews the file.
- SNCI loan: complements the bank loan over a long term.
- Guarantee: the mutual guarantee society covers part of the bank’s risk, in return for a premium.
The amounts and terms of SNCI programmes change: ask the SNCI or your bank for the current grid before building the financing plan.
Preparing the financing file
The financing plan for a new business generally combines a personal contribution, a bank loan, a possible SNCI loan and a guarantee. The bank remains the main contact: it reviews the file, and the SNCI steps in alongside it over the long term.
A solid file presents the project, the three-year forecast, the detailed funding need and the partners’ contribution. The company must already exist or be in the process of being formed, with its business permit if the activity requires one.
Next step
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a personal contribution for an SNCI loan?
In practice yes: the SNCI and banks ask for a share of equity in the financing plan. The plan generally combines a personal contribution, a bank loan, a possible SNCI loan and a guarantee, and the bank remains the main contact that reviews the file.
Does the guarantee replace a personal guarantee?
Not necessarily. The mutual guarantee society covers part of the bank’s risk, up to 50% of the bank loan, in return for a premium; the bank may ask for other security depending on the file. The guarantee therefore complements the financing without automatically replacing the security the bank requires.