Our financing solutions
CITIZ US, a loan of up to 150,000 € for social enterprises
The financial solution for Social Enterprises
CITIZ US is a loan intended for social enterprises accredited by the Brussels-Capital Region or meeting the various criteria defined by the Region. A social enterprise is based on nine main characteristics that can be found in whole or in part in each social enterprise. They are divided into three sub-groups: the economic dimension, the social dimension, and the governance structure.
This loan of a maximum of 150,000 € is repayable over a period of 1 to 5 years.
Characteristics of the CITIZ US loan
Who is the CITIZ US loan for?
CITIZ US targets social enterprises that meet the EMES criteria. The criteria are detailed on the SPF Economy website..
What financial needs can CITIZ US cover?
CITIZ US can cover short-term and/or long-term financial needs, meaning:
- loans of less than one year intended to support cash flow
- long-term loans (more than one year)
These may be used for business investment, working capital, or stock.
What is the maximum amount that can be invested by brusoc?
The financing is up to a maximum of 150,000 €.
What are the advantages of CITIZ US compared to a bank loan?
CITIZ US is intended for companies that do not have or only partially have access to bank credit. This loan complements or facilitates the financing chain, e.g. a bank loan, crowdfunding, or a proxi loan.
Costs of the CITIZ US loan
What is the interest rate of CITIZ US?
The interest rate is fixed and amounts to:
- 3.5% for loans of less than one year
- 4% for loans of more than one year
What are the repayment terms of CITIZ US?
The loan can be repaid over a maximum period of 1 to 5 years depending on repayment capacity.
Can I benefit from CITIZ US if I have no personal contribution?
For the CITIZ US loan, no personal contribution is required.
What are the conditions to obtain CITIZ US?
- The establishment unit is located in the Brussels-Capital Region
- Be a social enterprise or comply with the three key principles (economic project, social purpose, and democratic governance)
- Demonstrate repayment capacity based on current results and/or realistic and substantiated financial forecasts
- Not be considered a company in difficulty
Funding Request Procedure
The processing procedure for a CITIZ US financing application is intended to be light, flexible, and agile. The objective is to process the application within a maximum of 4 weeks. Processing can begin as soon as the submitted application file is considered complete.
Funding steps
Submission of your file directly to Brusoc or via a support structure (GEL, Hub.brussels)
Analysis of your file and possible support from Brusoc to complete it
Meetings with the Brusoc analyst to assess the robustness of your file and identify possible gaps in the project
Presentation of the file to the Board of Directors, which takes the decision to grant the financing
After approval, free support is offered to the promoters (legal, financial, administrative support, …)
Documents to provide
CITIZ US application form download here
A financial plan
CV of the project promoter + copy of identity card
Professional access authorisations
Quotes for planned investments
If the activity has already started: a copy of the current accounting situation and VAT declarations for the current year
If the application concerns a takeover: a copy of the draft business transfer agreement, balance sheets and income statements of the seller for the last 2 years
Request funding
Do you need financial support to launch or grow your business?
We offer a range of tailor-made financing solutions. Request funding by completing this form. We will assess your request and get back to you with a first answer within 3 weeks.
*Personal data is collected and processed solely for the purpose of providing you with the requested information. This data will not be shared with third parties or used for commercial purposes.