Initiative Sambre Avesnois – prêt d’honneur (interest-free personal loan)
The Initiative Sambre Avesnois programme generally combines support for the project with the possibility of a prêt d’honneur. The catalogue mentions: a prêt d’honneur with no interest or security, granted personally. It is generally between €5,000 and €30,000, repayable over 3 to 5 years. The prêt d’honneur is always paired with a bank loan: for every €1 of Initiative prêt d’honneur, an Initiative entrepreneur obtains €9.50 of bank loans on average. Support before the loan is granted helps the entrepreneur assess all of their financing needs. These details are useful for preparing an initial discussion, but they confirm neither that the scheme is currently open nor that financing will be granted.
The Initiative Sambre Avesnois prêt d’honneur (interest-free personal loan) can contribute to the financing plan of a business project, subject to review of the application and the platform’s criteria. It is a repayable personal loan; in the Initiative France network it is generally at zero interest and with no personal guarantee, but the exact terms are set locally.
Funded by Bpifrance, Département 59 - Nord, Financeurs privés
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Who can apply
Beneficiaries mentioned in the catalogue: founders and buyers of businesses in all sectors, whatever their age, background or financial means. Excluded sectors: financial intermediation and property services. Have the up-to-date criteria confirmed, notably location, the company’s situation and any exclusions.
Eligibility conditions
Conditions listed in the catalogue: the network’s local associations welcome founders at the stage of finalising the business plan and seeking financing. All founders can apply for support and financing. Ask for confirmation of the area covered, the accepted project stage, financial criteria, sector exclusions, combination rules and any complementary bank loan. Also check whether the application must be submitted before any spending begins.
What the scheme covers
All types of business start-up and takeover projects. Complementary programmes have been designed specifically for entrepreneurs, young people under 30 or certain sectors (agriculture, retail, innovation, business transfer/takeover, etc.). To ease the review, link each cost to a specific stage of the project, state its amount and date, then attach the relevant quotes or supporting documents. Check the rules on costs already incurred before starting.
Amount and funding terms
A prêt d’honneur with no interest or security, granted personally. It is generally between €5,000 and €30,000, repayable over 3 to 5 years. The prêt d’honneur is always paired with a bank loan: for every €1 of Initiative prêt d’honneur, an Initiative entrepreneur obtains €9.50 of bank loans on average. Support before the loan is granted helps the entrepreneur assess all of their financing needs.
How to apply
1. Contact Initiative Sambre Avesnois to confirm the area and that the project fits. 2. Ask for the current conditions, caps, required documents and review timetable. 3. Prepare the business plan, financial forecasts, budget, cash-flow plan, quotes, your contribution and other planned financing. 4. Submit the complete application following the official procedure. 5. Wait for the written decision before treating the financing as secured.
Timeline
Opening dates, application deadlines and review times are not confirmed by the information available. Ask the platform for the updated timetable and check the rules for costs incurred before applying.
Key facts
- Funder
- Bpifrance, Département 59 - Nord, Financeurs privés
- Type of funding
- Repayable advance
- Status
- Ongoing
- Maximum amount
- €30,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Minimum amount
- €5,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Geographic scope
- Hauts-de-France
Frequently asked questions
Does the prêt d’honneur have to be repaid?
Yes. It is a repayable personal loan, not a grant. The amount and terms depend on the platform’s decision and conditions.
Which criteria should I check first?
Check the area covered, the project stage, financial criteria, sector exclusions, combination rules and any bank financing requirements.
Which documents should I prepare?
Prepare the business plan, detailed budget, forecasts, cash-flow plan, relevant quotes and details of your personal contribution and other financing.
Can I apply after starting the project?
Check this point with the platform before starting. Some schemes require an application beforehand and may exclude costs incurred too early.
Official source
No official URL is available in our data for this grant.
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