Of the companies surveyed, 15 percent needed new external financing, such as a bank loan. Of the companies that took further steps, 55 percent actually obtained new financing in 2025. In 2019, more companies needed financing, but a smaller portion successfully completed the search (51 percent).
The financing process consists of several steps. First, a portion of companies need financing. In 2025, this was 15 percent of companies, compared to 20 percent in 2019. Second, there is the orientation phase: a large majority of these entrepreneurs gather information about the possibilities or are already familiar with them. Third, a portion of the remaining companies decide to submit a financing application. Finally, the fourth step is the outcome of the application; a lender grants the loan fully or partially.
Of all companies that submit an application, 93 percent are ultimately successful: they receive the requested amount fully or partially. This is more than in 2019, when it was 84 percent.
In a parallel study, the search for new external financing by female entrepreneurs in 2022-2024 was compared with that of male entrepreneurs. Companies where the entrepreneur and their gender were known were examined. The share of female entrepreneurs who need financing and successfully complete the entire process is lower than that of male entrepreneurs; 35 versus 47 percent. This is mainly because female entrepreneurs apply less often. They apply in 47 percent of cases, while men apply in 59 percent of cases.
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