Equipment & Supply Expenses

$66

$1,200

Retail Business Expenses

$1,250

$11,650

Inventory Expenses

$350

$14,750

Advertising & Marketing Costs

$75

$9,636

Software Expenses

$0

$425

Website Costs

$13

$215

Total Startup Costs

$1,754

$37,876

NIRSAL MicroFinance Bank

nmfb.com.ng

18,533

FCMB

fcmb.com

22,015

Kuda.

kudabank.com

64,753

CoVantage Credit Union

covantagecu.org

71,766

FinDev Gateway

findevgateway.org

113,689

CGAP: Empowering the poor through financial services

cgap.org

188,370

Mobilink Microfinance Bank

mobilinkbank.com

281,237

FINCA Microfinance Bank Limited

finca.pk

423,102

FINCA International

finca.org

470,141

LAPO Microfinance Bank

lapo-nigeria.org

499,291

VFD MicroFinance Bank

vfdbank.com

791,988

Rewarding work

Starting a microfinance bank can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

Meaningful business connections

You never know who you will meet as a microfinance bank. This could be the start of an incredible business opportunity!

Daily physical activity

Microfinance Bank's typically involve a much greater degree of movement than other lines of work. Most days, you will spend your day walking, running errands for your business, and performing a multitude of tasks. This can have a positive impact on energy levels and your overall health.

Amazing perks and discounts

Working in the microfinance bank comes with its perks! As a seller for these products/services, you typically also get to enjoy industry perks and discounts.

You are your own boss!

With starting a microfinance bank, you are the one to make decisions for almost all of the operations. Calling the shots can be empowering and liberating!

Local Community

One of the best parts of starting a microfinance bank is that you can develop a local following by selling your products at craft shows, farmers' markets, or even local storefront businesses! This gives you access to additional revenue streams and loyal customers.

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your microfinance bank, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Finding The Right Supplier

Most businesses in this space go the supplier/manufacturer route, which isn't a bad thing! However, finding the right supplier can take a lot of time, energy and trial/error. If done properly, this process can save you months (if not years) of time and energy. More on this below in the "finding a supplier" section.

Motivation of employees

If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees.

Low margins

The gross margins for your microfinance bank are typically around 43%, which can make it more challenging to incur new expenses and maintain profitability.

High employee turnover

In the microfinance bank, employee turnover is often high, which can be quite costly and time consuming for your business. It's important to try and avoid this as much as possible by offering competitive pay, benefits, and a positive work environment.

Taxes

As a microfinance bank, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.