Conscientious and determined. Taking big steps toward independence. (Photo: © Weinhold Optic Actuell)
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June 18, 2021
A story straight out of a picture book: The story of a master optician who dreamed of owning her own business even during her apprenticeship. And of a boss who was just waiting to find a worthy successor. Both dreams came true with the help of the Bürgschaftsbank NRW.
The Weinhold Optic Actuell store in Bergisch Gladbach is much more than just an "eyeglasses shop ." Here, customers can take advantage of numerous services related to eye health, in addition to the custom-made production of vision aids . These include, for example, retinal screening, a twelve-step vision analysis of the eye as a whole, and measurements for heterophoria.
Soon, these services will even be available to toddlers who can't yet speak. Optician and optometrist Rebecca Schwan, 29, therefore wants to train to become a pediatric optometrist . She took over the business from Jörg Weinhold in February 2021, fulfilling her dream of self-employment . Fortunately, the healthcare sector was not affected by the coronavirus lockdown. She can thus continue to pursue her plan to help even the youngest children with determination. No easy task, as these little ones are at an age where they cannot yet answer questions. Here, it's about extracting information from them through grasping and touching – that is, through eye-hand coordination and visual tracking. This fascinates Schwan and helps the little ones develop normally.
Rebecca Schwan worked for Weinhold for five years before taking over his business. Her boss had realized after just two years that she was the ideal successor. They quickly reached an agreement, allowing her to gradually step into Weinhold's shoes . As a result, she was already familiar with the customers, staff, and processes long before the official takeover.
"Ms. Schwan demonstrated great conscientiousness and determination. She worked diligently towards self-employment and acquired the necessary qualifications." Sonja Steinkläubl, Corporate Client Advisor, Guarantee Bank NRW
Operations management
Operations management
Operations management
Nevertheless, it was an adjustment. In the first few weeks after founding the company, Rebecca Schwan had to constantly remind herself that she was now the boss: "Unlocking the doors for the first time was accompanied by a great deal of excitement and immense joy," she recalls. By then, she had long since overcome the financing hurdle. Her recipe for success: a 70 percent service guarantee for a low six-figure sum. She obtained this guarantee from the NRW Guarantee Bank through her local bank, Bensberger Bank eG.
Schwan plans to invest the money in modernizing her business . She also intends to expand her marketing efforts with contemporary social media campaigns . The guarantor appreciates all of this: "Ms. Schwan demonstrated great conscientiousness and determination. She worked diligently towards self-employment and acquired the necessary qualifications," says Sonja Steinkläubl, corporate client advisor at the NRW Guarantee Bank. Schwan, in turn, praises the collaboration: "It's reassuring to know that an advisor understands my goals. After all, a significant amount of money is at stake."
The guarantee bank always focuses on the potential economic opportunities of a company and relieves credit institutions of the burden, especially in start-up and succession projects, while the entrepreneur remains personally liable.
✓ Any founder, entrepreneur, or freelancer can apply for a default guarantee. It must be a small or medium-sized business.
✓ You need appropriate personal, commercial and professional qualifications for your field of activity.
✓ A business plan with an economic forecast is required, which proves that the business operations can generate capital service and a reasonable living.
✓ The applications are usually processed through the house bank, but guarantees can also be applied for directly at the guarantee bank (BoB = guarantee without bank). Applications can be made at www.bb-nrw.de or via the new financing portal ermoeglicher.de
✓ The maximum guarantee amount is 2,5 million euros.
✓ Costs: Upon approval, a one-time processing fee (usually 0,75% of the guaranteed loan amount, with a minimum of €400) and an annual guarantee commission are charged. Furthermore, involving the guarantee bank usually results in better loan terms.
✓ Guarantees are available for almost any project and venture, provided the prospects are right. Excluded are restructuring measures, debt restructuring, and measures that are not "eligible" under EU competition rules.
✓ If additional equity capital is required, the Guarantee Bank recommends the involvement of KBG NRW (www.kbg-nrw.de).
CONCLUSIONTo provide support during the Corona crisis, the Guarantee Bank has expanded its funding options:
Classic guarantee 80%
Loan volume up to max. €5 million Guarantee volume up to max. €2,5 million
Classic guarantee 90%
Loan volume up to max. €2,777 million Guarantee volume up to max. €2,5 million
Express Guarantee 80%
Loan volume up to max. €312.500 Guarantee volume up to max. €250.000 Decision within 72 hours
Express Guarantee 90%
Loan volume up to max. €277.700 Guarantee volume up to max. €250.000 Decision within 72 hours
Immediate Guarantee 90%
Loan volume up to €100.000 Guarantee volume up to €90.000 Decision within 24 hours
Further information on the products of the guarantee bank can be found at: www.bb-nrw.de
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