ERP development loan for SMEs · formerly KfW Entrepreneur Loan
ERP Development Loan for SMEs for Established Businesses
ERP development loan for SMEs (365/366): up to €25 million for investments, with the 366 up to €7.5 million for working capital, low-interest, long-term, with a liability exemption (Haftungsfreistellung) on request.
up to €25 million
Loan amount
up to 100%
financing possible
4.9
on Google
up to 20 yrs.
Term
- Up to €25 million for investments, with the 366 working capital up to €7.5 million
- Up to 100% financing, term up to 20 years
- Prepared to be bankable, support until approval
- Free & non-binding
- Reply within 24 hours
- No obligation
Qualifications & experience
Your project in experienced hands.
Our credentials and track record at a glance.
4.88 / 5
92 reviews on ProvenExpert
As of September 2026
750+
business plans written
Since 2018
Registration
BAFA register of consultants
Pavel Deuble, management consultant
Consultant ID 191790
What does this mean for you?
Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). Pavel Deuble, consultant ID 191790. Your BAFA-funded consulting must be provided by a listed consultant.
Provider approval
AZAV-approved provider
UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, our sister company
AZAV provider approval Z-000392-2
What does this mean for you?
AVGS programs may only be delivered by approved providers. Our sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, Leverkusen, takes care of this.
Our service
KfW financing support
We put together the documents for your loan application, which your house bank forwards to KfW, and prepare you for the bank meeting.
In practice: Since 2018 we have written more than 750 business plans. 99% of the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) applications we supported were approved (internally documented). The start-up grant is a discretionary benefit under § 93 SGB III; the Employment Agency decides on approval.
Track record & funding notes
Listed in the BAFA register of consultants; AVGS programs through the AZAV-certified provider UW Unternehmensweg GmbH
4.88 out of 5 on ProvenExpert
Based on 92 reviews on ProvenExpert (as of October 2026).
What Is the KfW Entrepreneur Loan?
The KfW Entrepreneur Loan (KfW-Unternehmerkredit, 037/047) was replaced at the beginning of 2022 by the ERP development loan for SMEs (program 365, or 366 with liability exemption). It is KfW’s central development loan for established businesses, self-employed people, and freelancers. It finances investments as well as ongoing working capital, on low-interest, long-term terms.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The ERP development loan for SMEs is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), self-employed people, and freelancers (fewer than 250 employees and annual revenue of no more than €50 million or a balance sheet total of no more than €43 million) who are based or operating in Germany.
- Established company, freelancer, or self-employed person
- Economically sound circumstances (not a company in difficulty)
- Project in Germany, commercial or freelance
- Variant 366 (with liability exemption): requires at least two completed fiscal years
- For young companies under 5 years old or start-ups: usually the ERP development loan for founding and succession (077) or KfW StartGeld (067)
365 or 366: Which Variant Fits?
Which variant is right depends on your collateral and your house bank’s willingness to take on risk. We review this with you and choose the suitable variant.
- 365: without liability exemption, for all eligible SMEs, simple when collateral is available
- 366: 50% risk assumption by KfW, relieves the house bank, requires at least two completed fiscal years, better chance when collateral is limited
Terms at a Glance (as of 2026)
The exact interest rates follow the creditworthiness-based KfW terms overview and may change (as of 2026). We review with you which variant currently fits.
- Loan amount: up to €25 million (with the 366, up to €7.5 million for working capital and materials and goods inventory)
- Up to 100% of the eligible costs can be financed (even without equity)
- Terms of up to 20 years with up to 3 repayment-free start-up years
- Variant 366: with liability exemption, which relieves your house bank of risk
- Particularly favorable interest rates in regional development areas and for companies that have been on the market for less than 5 years
What You Can Use the Loan For
- Machinery, equipment, vehicle fleet, and operating equipment
- Digitalization, software, and IT infrastructure
- Operating and business equipment, inventory, and goods
- Business and practice takeovers
- Growth, market development, and working capital
What Is Not Funded?
- Debt rescheduling or follow-up financing of projects that have already been completed
- Restructuring cases and companies in economic difficulty
- Pure refinancing of existing loans
- Projects that had already begun before the application was submitted
Founding Instead of Financing an Existing Business?
If you are still in the founding phase or your company is less than five years old, the ERP development loan for founding and succession or the KfW start-up loan StartGeld is often the better route. We classify your project correctly.
How the Application Works With Us
Important: the KfW loan must be applied for through your house bank before the project begins. Subsequent financing of investments that have already begun or been completed is excluded.
The KfW loan is applied for through your house bank (house bank principle, Hausbankprinzip). We prepare everything for it:
- Clarify capital requirements and select the suitable KfW/ERP program
- Create a bankable business plan and financial plan
- Prepare the application and bank documents
- Support through the bank meeting, with guarantee bank involvement on request
Personal Consulting, No Call Center
You have a dedicated contact person who knows your project and accompanies you from the first idea to implementation. On an equal footing, transparent, and tailored to your situation.
- A dedicated consultant instead of changing case handlers
- Bank-tested documents that meet funding requirements
- Support all the way to the meeting with the bank or authority
Points of contact
Key Points of Contact for Business Financing
These institutions are relevant for financing your project, from the development bank and the guarantee bank to the house bank. We know the requirements of all of them and prepare your application accordingly.
KfW – Germany’s federal development bank
Low-interest development loans for founding, investment, and growth (e.g., ERP development loan for SMEs). Applications are submitted through your house bank.
State development banks
Regional development loans, grants, and guarantees for each federal state: NRW.BANK, L-Bank, LfA Bayern, IBB, IFB, and others.
Guarantee banks
Default guarantees (up to 80%) if you lack standard bank collateral. Each federal state has its own guarantee bank.
Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaften (MBG, SME equity investment companies)
Silent partnership capital and mezzanine capital to strengthen your equity base, available in every federal state.
BAFA
Grant toward consulting costs through the “Förderung unternehmerischen Know-hows” program (funding of entrepreneurial know-how): 50% to 80% depending on where your company is based, application before consulting begins.
Federal funding database (Förderdatenbank des Bundes)
Official directory of all funding programs of the federal government, the states, and the EU, searchable by project and region.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) & Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer)
Free initial advice, financing consultation days, and, for funding applications, the expert opinion (fachkundige Stellungnahme) on viability.
House bank (Sparkasse, Volksbank, or commercial bank)
The first point of contact for financing: development loans run through the house bank principle, so the house bank reviews the application and passes it on to the development bank.
We put together the right funding mix for you. KfW, state development bank, guarantee, equity stake, or house bank loan: we choose the right combination and prepare your application to be bankable.
Equity: what KfW requires and what the house bank expects
For most programs (for example StartGeld 067 or the ERP development loan for SMEs), KfW requires no minimum equity; formally, up to 100% of the costs can be financed. However, because the loan runs through your house bank and the house bank shares the risk, the bank in practice usually expects 10–20% own funds before it commits. Equity improves creditworthiness, terms, and the likelihood of approval.
Exception for takeovers and succession: Here the equity ratio is often less decisive, because the running business with its cash flow and assets serves as collateral. We prepare your application in such a way that the house bank goes along with it.
KfW programs at a glance
The most important KfW funding routes in one place. We clarify in the free initial consultation which program fits your project.
Official Sources, Information Sheets & Flyers
The authoritative primary sources to read up on: information sheets and program pages of the responsible funding bodies, as well as the relevant legal texts.
External links to official bodies, checked on June 19, 2026. Content and terms may change; the source itself is always authoritative.
Video testimonials
First-Hand Experiences
See how founders experienced the path to funded self-employment, with real names and verifiable on request.
4.9 / 5 · 65 Google reviews
In 30 minutes we answer all your questions, free of charge and without obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions About the KfW Entrepreneur Loan
How high is the KfW Entrepreneur Loan?
Through the ERP development loan for SMEs, up to €25 million is possible; with the 366, up to €7.5 million for working capital and materials and goods inventory. For larger mid-sized companies, there are further KfW/ERP programs. As of 2026; terms may change.
Do I need equity?
KfW formally requires no minimum equity, as up to 100% of the eligible costs are possible. In practice, however, the loan runs through your house bank (house bank principle), which shares the risk. That is why it usually expects 10–20% own funds. Exception: in company takeovers, the equity ratio is often less decisive, because the established business with its cash flow and assets serves as collateral.
How high is the liability exemption for 366?
KfW assumes 50% of the credit risk toward your house bank. At least two completed fiscal years are required. This makes it easier to get the loan approved when standard bank collateral is limited.
What is the difference between 365 and 366?
365 runs without KfW assuming any risk; 366 comes with a 50% liability exemption for the house bank (from two completed fiscal years). With the 366, a cap of €7.5 million applies to working capital and materials and goods inventory.
Do I have to apply before the project begins?
Yes. The application must be submitted through the house bank before the project begins. Investments that have already begun or been completed are not eligible for funding.
How long are the term and the repayment-free period?
Terms of up to 20 years with up to 3 repayment-free start-up years. This protects your liquidity during the investment phase.
How do I apply for the loan?
Through your house bank: it reviews the application and forwards it to KfW (house bank principle). We prepare the concept and documents to be bankable and accompany you to the meeting.
Is the loan also suitable for start-ups?
For the founding phase, the ERP development loan for founding and succession or KfW StartGeld is usually more suitable. We review which route is right for your project.
Preparing the KfW Entrepreneur Loan to Be Bankable
In the free initial consultation we clarify your capital requirements and the suitable KfW variant.