SDB Entrepreneurs Financing: amount, terms and steps

Financing amount, repayment and fees

• Amount: SAR 50,000 to SAR 500,000 ^[1].
• Repayment: up to 9 years (108 months) in monthly instalments, with a grace period of up to 12 months ^[1].
• Fees: 9% administrative fee and 2% annual service fee ^[1].
• Disbursement: 70% as a first tranche and 30% as a second, after proof that the first was spent in line with the agreed business plan and a site visit; the second tranche must be requested within 12 months ^[2].

Eligible project stages

• New: at the idea or feasibility stage, or with a CR no more than 6 months old.
• Being established: CR between 6 and 12 months old, with operations not yet started.
• Early-stage: already operating, with a CR between 6 and 12 months old.

The applicant must own the project outright, and up to two guarantors are accepted ^[2].

Mandatory training and the business plan

Before financing there is mandatory training of 5 to 7 days with partner organisations, during which the business plan is prepared (it serves as the project plan), followed by a mandatory personal interview ^[2].

A feasibility study is not listed as a separate requirement in the FAQs, but it helps you enter the training with real figures for your location and costs rather than estimates. The Preliminary Feasibility Study gives you these figures with their sources.

Excluded activities

Insurance and brokerage; watches, jewellery and gold; livestock; agricultural products; speculative or unlawful activities; and activities excluded under agreements with other government funds ^[2].

How to apply

Through the bank's online lending portal or its app, with no branch visit. The stated processing time is 90 working days ^[1].

Age and full-time commitment requirements do not appear on the pages we reviewed, so check them on the product page before applying.

Frequently asked questions