Financing a start-up or SME in the Republic of the Congo
A Congolese entrepreneur funds a start-up or expansion by combining personal savings, bank or microfinance credit and public FIGA guarantees, with banks in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire requiring a formal business holding an RCCM entry, an NIU and proper accounts.
Congolese SMEs: a central role, limited access
According to figures presented at a Banque Postale du Congo seminar, SMEs make up around 80% of businesses and 60% of jobs. Yet they remain underfinanced, for lack of guarantees and certified accounts.
FIGA, the public start-up and guarantee fund
The Fonds d'Impulsion, de Garantie et d'Accompagnement supports the creation, growth and competitiveness of micro-enterprises, SMEs and craftspeople. It guarantees part of the loans granted by its partners and helps project holders put their plans together.
A 14 billion FCFA guarantee line signed in 2025
In January 2025 in Brazzaville, FIGA signed agreements with banks and MFIs opening a guarantee line of 14 billion FCFA for SMEs, craftspeople and traders. It reduces banking risk but does not replace a sound project.
FIGA diaspora for Congolese living abroad
Launched at a citizens' meeting in Paris in 2025, the FIGA diaspora programme targets Congolese settled abroad who want to invest at home. A local legal entity and on-the-ground follow-up are still needed.
Formalising your business before seeking a loan
Banks and FIGA alike generally require registration in the trade and personal property credit register, the unique identification number issued by the tax authorities and a business bank account. The business creation desk handles these formalities in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
Commercial banks and investment credit
LCB Bank, BGFIBank Congo, Crédit du Congo, Ecobank Congo and UBA Congo finance working capital, equipment and public contracts. They ask for balance sheets, cash flow forecasts and collateral whose value often exceeds the amount the SME borrows.
MFIs and mutuals for Congolese craftspeople starting out
Craftspeople, seamstresses, mechanics and small traders starting out in Brazzaville go first to MFIs, for smaller amounts. Schemes such as the Kolisa loan and MUCODEC branches are covered on the page about microcredit in Congo-Brazzaville.
Leasing to equip your business
Leasing financed 10.9 billion FCFA for the Congolese private sector in 2024, against 4.3 billion in 2023. Machinery, utility vehicles and rolling stock can be obtained through vehicle and equipment leasing in the Congo.
Public contracts and State payment delays
Many construction and service SMEs work for the State or local authorities. Late public payments weaken their cash flow, and banks treat applications backed by receivables owed by the administration with caution.
Growth sectors: agribusiness, timber, oil services
In Pointe-Noire, oil subcontracting and port logistics dominate, while agribusiness, timber processing and digital services are expanding in Brazzaville. Each of these sectors involves its own type of collateral and its own cash flow cycle, which banks assess differently.
Tax and OHADA accounting
The Congo applies the OHADA Uniform Act on accounting law. Financial statements compliant with SYSCOHADA, filed and consistent with tax returns, reassure banks and often determine whether a firm can access public guarantee schemes.
Doing business within the Congolese financial system
The supervisory and rate rules that apply to business loans are those of the BEAC and COBAC. The overview of credit in Congo-Brazzaville presents these players and the offer aimed at individuals.
Putting together a business financing file in the Congo
- Register the business with the RCCM, obtain the NIU and open a business account with a bank or an MFI.
- Write a business plan costed in CFA francs with sales forecasts, expenses and cash flow needs.
- Identify the right financing: microcredit, bank loan, leasing or a FIGA guarantee depending on the amount.
- Gather the available collateral, such as a land title, a pledge over equipment or a personal guarantee.
- Submit the file, answer the analyst's questions and follow its progress through the credit committee.
- After approval, keep regular accounts to make renewals and future financing easier.
Costs of business financing in the Congo
| Item | Basis | Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Average rate on all loans in the Congo | 9.58% in Q2 2024, indicative (BEAC) | Company size and collateral |
| FIGA guarantee fee | Depends on the programme | Amount guaranteed and term |
| Bank arrangement fees | Percentage of the loan | Bank and project complexity |
| Mortgage or pledge fees | Proportional to the collateral | Type of asset and registration |
| Setting up the company | Formality fees | Legal form and share capital |
Standard file for a Congolese entrepreneur
- RCCM extract and company articles of association
- Unique identification number (NIU) and tax compliance certificate
- Business plan and three-year financial forecasts
- SYSCOHADA financial statements for recent years
- Business bank statements
- Land title or equipment invoices offered as collateral
- Contracts, purchase orders or public tenders won
What blocks financing for a Congolese SME
- Mixing personal and business accounts, which makes it impossible for the bank to assess the real profitability of the activity.
- Presenting a business plan with no local market study and no allowance for payment delays by public clients.
- Paying a middleman who claims he can obtain FIGA financing in return for a commission paid upfront.
- Underestimating working capital needs, which drains cash before the first takings come in.
- Failing to declare income to the tax authorities, then being unable to produce an up-to-date tax compliance certificate.
Questions from project holders in Congo-Brazzaville
Does FIGA finance informal businesses?
FIGA targets micro-enterprises, SMEs and craftspeople and strongly encourages formalisation. Some schemes, such as the Kolisa loan, have reached informal traders, but the authorities insist they register in order to keep receiving financing.
Will a Congolese bank lend to a business that is just starting?
It is difficult without a contribution or collateral. Banks prefer a track record of two or three financial years. A new business often relies on personal savings, microfinance, leasing or a public guarantee to complete its financing plan.
Can members of the diaspora obtain financing to invest in the Congo?
The FIGA diaspora programme was launched in 2025 for such projects. The investor must set up an entity in the Congo, present a business plan and appoint a local manager. Detailed conditions are set by FIGA.
What collateral should you offer for an equipment loan?
The financed equipment can serve as collateral through a pledge, or remain the lessor's property under a lease. For a standard loan, the bank may also ask for a mortgage on a titled plot or a personal guarantee from the manager.