Starting or growing a company in Tunisia with the right financing
A Tunisian entrepreneur can approach a commercial bank, the BFPME for SMEs, BTS Bank for small projects or a microfinance institution, backed by a SOTUGAR guarantee and, since October 2026, by interest-free honour loans.
Overview of business financing in Tunisia
The Tunisian economy rests on SMEs in textiles, car components, food processing, tourism and digital services. Banks remain the main source of credit, while private equity and the stock market finance only a minority of the country's companies.
BFPME, the public bank dedicated to SMEs
The Bank for Financing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises co-finances business creation and expansion, with grace periods of six months to three years depending on the project. It also holds weekly advisory sessions for people with business ideas.
BTS Bank and small projects
BTS Bank, formerly the Banque tunisienne de solidarité, finances small trades and graduates launching an activity, often with a reduced own contribution. It has also played a historic role in refinancing the country's microcredit associations.
SOTUGAR guarantees to make up for missing collateral
The Tunisian Guarantee Company covers part of the bank's risk when the founder lacks physical collateral. This cover, paid for through a fee, makes it easier to obtain an investment loan for an industrial or service project.
Law 2024-41: 8% of bank profits for small businesses
Banks must devote at least 8% of the previous year's profits to loans of two years at most, with no interest or collateral, intended for small businesses. How this is applied in practice varies from one bank to another.
Honour loans of 10,000 and 25,000 dinars
Decree 148 of 2026 provides up to 10,000 dinars for a small project founder and 25,000 dinars for an SME or community company, with no interest, fees or collateral, over two years at most with six months' deferral.
The Startup Act and startup label
Since the 2018 startup law, labelled innovative young companies have enjoyed tax and social security benefits and access to dedicated funds. The label is not a loan, but it reassures investors and some banks about the project.
National Business Register and tax identification number
Every company or individual trader must be entered in the National Business Register and hold a tax identification number. Without these documents, a bank cannot open a business account or process an investment loan application.
Leasing equipment and commercial vehicles
For a machine, a lorry or a vehicle fleet, leasing avoids tying up cash. Our page on car leasing in Tunisia describes the leasing companies operating in the country and the rate ceiling that applies to their contracts.
Microfinance for very small activities
A craftsman in Nabeul or a shopkeeper in Gabes with no balance sheet can start with a loan from an ACM-licensed institution. See our guide to microcredit in Tunisia, where the ceiling now reaches 50,000 dinars.
Islamic financing for companies
Banque Zitouna, Al Baraka Bank and Wifak Bank offer murabaha for stock, ijara for equipment and sometimes musharaka. These products appeal to entrepreneurs in Sfax or Sousse who refuse interest for religious reasons.
A business plan in dinars and the wider credit picture
Before choosing, it helps to understand the whole system of credit in Tunisia, from rate ceilings to public players. A business plan costed in dinars remains the centrepiece of any investment loan application.
Financing path for a business project in Tunisia
- Write a business plan setting out investment, working capital, forecast turnover and jobs created.
- Register the company in the National Business Register and obtain the tax number and CNSS affiliation.
- Apply to a bank, the BFPME or BTS Bank depending on the size of the project.
- Request a SOTUGAR guarantee if your personal or physical collateral is insufficient for the bank.
- Raise the required equity contribution and pay it into the company's business account.
- Sign the loan agreements, then justify the use of funds with invoices at each drawdown.
Cost and terms of business financing in Tunisia
| Source | Cost or benefit | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Honour loan for a small project | 0%, up to 10,000 TND | Two years at most, six-month deferral |
| Honour loan for an SME or community company | 0%, up to 25,000 TND | Online application through a bank |
| BFPME loan | Risk-based rate (variable) | Grace period of six months to three years |
| SOTUGAR guarantee | Variable fee | Partial cover of the bank's risk |
| Average APR, medium-term credit | 9.80% (indicative, H1 2026) | Published average, before the usury threshold |
Standard file for a Tunisian business founder
- ID card of the founder and partners
- Extract from the National Business Register and company articles
- Tax identification card
- Business plan and feasibility study
- Equipment quotes and lease or title deed for the premises
- Financial statements for recent years for an existing company
- Startup label certificate where applicable
Weaknesses that get a business application rejected in Tunisia
- Submitting a business plan with no local market study and no realistic price assumptions in dinars.
- Underestimating working capital needs, especially the payment delays of public-sector clients and large retailers.
- Paying a consultant who promises to secure an honour loan or grant for a commission, when applying is free.
- Starting the business without registering in the National Business Register, which blocks any business credit.
Financing for entrepreneurs in Tunisia: key questions
What is the difference between the BFPME and BTS Bank?
The BFPME targets small and medium-sized enterprises with structured investment projects, often in industry or services. BTS Bank is aimed more at small projects, trades and young graduates, with lower amounts and a smaller personal contribution required.
Can community companies borrow money?
Yes. Decree 148 of 2026 gives them, like SMEs, access to interest-free honour loans of up to 25,000 dinars. They can also approach conventional banks, provided they present articles of association and a viable project.
Does a SOTUGAR guarantee replace the founder's own contribution?
No. It guarantees part of the loan in case of default, but the bank still requires an equity contribution from the founder. The coverage rate and the fee depend on the type of project and the guarantee line used.
Can a self-employed sole trader get an honour loan?
The scheme targets founders of small projects up to 10,000 dinars. The exact eligibility criteria, particularly for recently established self-employed workers, should be checked on each bank's digital platform, open since 1 October 2026.