HandsOn Microkrediet



HandsOn Microkrediet is a non-bank micro finance institution (NB MFI) operating in the Netherlands since early 2007. It is the first private NB MFI in the Netherlands, providing small business loans and business development services to micro-entrepreneurs.

Mission and goal
HandsOn Microkrediet aims to support all enterprising people in the Netherlands who simply have limited fewer opportunities in society, based upon the belief that everybody has talents to employ.  The goal of HandsOn Microkrediet is to provide Dutch poor enterprising people and micro-entrepreneurs with small loans and coaching to develop their business, skills and abilities. Our goal is the sustainability of the micro-entrepreneur’s business.

Target group
The target group consist of all Dutch poor people who want to start, or develop further, their micro-enterprise, or their entrepreneurial skills. This means that HandsOn Microkrediet provides micro credits to them who have less income than 25.000 euro, have business plans and show entrepreneurial behaviour.

Organisation: franchise
HandsOn Microkrediet is a foundation based in Amsterdam, structured as a franchise organization. HandsOn Microkrediet Nederland provides franchises to local offices of HandsOn Microkrediet in the major cities in the Netherlands. It functions as a centre of expertise and provides the franchisors with strategy and policies, systems, and required agreements with authorities. HandsOn Microkrediet Amsterdam is the first franchisee in operation.

Unique Selling Point (USP): for and by entrepreneurs
HandsOn Microkrediet is guided by the philosophy that micro-entrepreneurs are best served by entrepreneurs themselves. To be concrete this means: the revolving fund of HandsOn Microkrediet consists of capital (interest-free loans) from experienced and successful entrepreneurs who want to share their wealth with other (micro-) entrepreneurs. The same group of successful businessmen share their knowledge and experiences with the micro-entrepreneurs, by coaching them on an individual and monthly basis.

Approach: personal & local
The micro credit application process is facilitated by a nation-wide available website. Within two weeks the applications are processed. This means a credit check is performed, an analysis of the micro entrepreneur and business plan is made and the contracts are signed.

HandsOn pays a lot of attention to listen to and talk with the potential micro-entrepreneur since HandsOn believes that it is the person -his/her motivation, skills and abilities-, not the written business plan that determines future success. That’s also why HandsOn believes in coaching ‘on the job’ (learning by doing) by experienced entrepreneurs on a monthly basis. This is key to business success.

Based upon experiences from ‘the South’ HandsOn Microkrediet demands from the micro-entrepreneur that he/she provides a guarantor, a person who commits his/herself to the success of the micro-enterprise and is financially accountable for the loan.

The way HandsOn targets the market can be characterized in the same way: personal and local. Local media, local fairs, mosques, street-events are the places where HandsOn Microkrediet meets and informs the target group.
 

Anouk Monnink is 22 years old and founded “Rooibos Skincenter”. She sells Rooibos skin-care products from South Africa to beauty salons and the wellness branch in the Netherlands. She uses her loan of 4000,- euro for advertisements, working capital and supplies. “I’m feeling comforted by the HandsOn coach, knowing that I can rely on the support of someone who has experience.”

Contact

For more information, please checkt our website (only in Dutch), or give us a call!

http://www.handsonmicrokrediet.nl
amsterdam@handsonmicrokrediet.nl

HandsOn Microkrediet
Pretoriusstraat 17
1092 EX Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 6277600
 

Good rating on the EMF- associated HandsOn Foundation for Microfinance in Amsterdam

HandsOn had the social return on investment of her activities calculated by the Social Evaluator System, facilitated by the DOB Foundation. The system indicates how much social value you generate on investment in HandsOn Microkrediet.
The result was that 1,00 Euro invested generates a social return of 2.24 Euro.
The added value is the result of:

• Added income for the micro entrepreneur
• Added social activities value
• Added network
• Added empowerment
• Less social and fiscal costs for the government

This excellent return is the result of the dedicated input by many volunteers and the availability of volunteer capital and skillful coaching of the micro entrepreneurs by experienced entrepreneurs.
HandsOn hopes that this rating will stimulate investors to (remain) investing in the HandsOn program.