Requirements for getting a business loan in Switzerland

What criteria does a business have to meet in order to be accepted for a loan in Switzerland?

Good day,

The requirements for getting a business loan in Switzerland vary between lenders, but here are some key points to pay attention to:

• Revenue: Some lenders require that you business earns a minimum amount of revenue annually (CHF 200,000, for example).
   
• Some lenders expect you to prove that your business is operating at a profit (EBITDA). Some may even stipulate a minimum profit (CHF 50,000, for example).
   
• Year of founding: Most lenders will only lend to businesses which are already established (2 years in operation, for example).
   
• Location: Swiss lenders normally only lend to businesses which are domiciled in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
   
• Most lenders only lend to businesses which are registered in the Swiss commercial register.
   
• Lenders do not provide loans to businesses which have open debt collection cases, property seizure claims or certificates of loss.
   
• Some lenders require securities. For example, you may need to provide property as collateral or get backing from a guarantor.
   
• A number of documents must be submitted to lenders for review. These normally include several years' worth of financial statements and balance sheets, a debt collection register report, and others.

The stringent requirements make business loans inaccessible to many startups. Self-employed individuals may be eligible for personal loans.

The interactive business loan comparison on moneyland.ch accounts for all of the most important criteria. Only loans which match your specifications appear in the comparison.

Best regards from Moneyguru

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