Financing file structuring for SMEs in Cameroon
You want to finance the growth of your company, but your file does not convince yet? It rarely lacks potential. More often it lacks readability: a financier must understand in a few pages what you do, what you need and why the numbers hold. Pharaon Advisory structures that file with you, for SMEs in Douala, Cameroon and the CEMAC zone.
What a financier is looking to read
Whatever its profile, a financier asks three questions before looking at the detail: is the project understandable, are the numbers consistent with the strategy, and is the manager able to execute? A structured file answers these three questions in order, without the reader having to rebuild the story.
- A funding need that is quantified, justified and dated.
- An activity described through its customers, margins and cash cycle.
- Explicit assumptions that can be challenged one by one.
- Legal, accounting and administrative documents that are up to date and consistent.
What makes a file unreadable
Most files we take over do not suffer from a single serious flaw, but from an accumulation of inconsistencies: revenue that does not match the cash plan, a funding need not tied to a specific use, documents that contradict each other. Our work is to spot them, correct them and tie every number back to its source.
How we help you structure your file
We make your project understandable to a banker, a microfinance institution, an investment fund or a development institution. We work with you on:
- Clarifying the project and the financing objective.
- Listing the information and documents to gather.
- Aligning strategy, forecast and cash plan, with our business plan and financial forecast support.
- Writing a project presentation note.
- Adapting the file to the targeted financier: for a credit, see bank loan file preparation; for equity, see fundraising support.
- A final review before submission.
What the engagement includes
| Deliverable | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Initial diagnosis | Understand the business, the project, the needs and the constraints |
| Project note | Present the business, the market, the team and the use of funds |
| Consistency table | Tie each number in the file to its source and assumption |
| Business plan and forecast | Demonstrate commercial, operational and financial consistency |
| Presentation file | Gather the elements in a clear format for the financier |
| Manager preparation | Anticipate the financier’s questions and points of attention |
The exact deliverables depend on the project, the amount sought and the type of financier.
Our 5-step method
- Project analysisWe study your business, your market, your funding need and the documents already available.
- Diagnosis of the existing fileWe identify missing information, financial inconsistencies and points to strengthen.
- Financial structuringWe build or make reliable the business plan, the forecast and the cash plan.
- File preparationWe organise the information in a clear file adapted to your financing goal.
- Final review and supportWe check overall consistency and prepare the points to anticipate with the financier.
For which projects?
- SMEs seeking growth, equipment, inventory or working-capital financing.
- Companies approaching several financiers that need one consistent file.
- Managers who have already been turned down and want to understand what blocked.
- Companies in Douala, Cameroon and the CEMAC zone.
Our track record
The firm reports 100 bn FCFA secured for its clients. Several of our engagements are publicly documented:
- Our case studies
- Article: can a business grow sustainably without structuring itself?
- DBS TV case study (PDF)
What we do not do
Frequently asked questions
What is a financing file?
A financing file gathers the information that lets a bank, a microfinance institution or an investor assess your project: business presentation, business plan, forecast, cash plan, funding need, supporting documents and security elements.
How is it different from a bank loan file?
The financing file is the common foundation: it presents the project to any financier. The bank loan file is its version for a credit, with the documents, security and repayment capacity a bank examines. See our page on the bank loan file.
Which documents should I prepare?
They vary with the project and the financier, but generally include company information, available financial statements, commercial data, the investment project and administrative documents.
How long does it take to structure a file?
It depends on the complexity of the project, the quality of the information available and the type of financier targeted. After the initial analysis we give you a schedule and the list of items to send us.
Do you only work in Cameroon?
We mainly support SMEs in Douala and Cameroon, as well as projects located in the CEMAC zone.
Do you guarantee that financing will be obtained?
No. We do not guarantee a positive decision. We help you present a more structured, consistent and professional file.
Submit my file
Do you have a project to finance, a file to rework or numbers to make reliable? Send us the first information about your company and your need. Our team analyses your situation and tells you the next steps.