When Business Needs Money: The Realities of Lending and Leasing in Poland

Let’s be honest: doing business in Poland is no walk on the beach. It’s more like a marathon with obstacles, where every decision is worth its weight in gold. Especially when it comes to financing. Because no matter how grand your plans are, without money they’ll remain just dreams. And here comes the eternal question: where to get those precious, much-needed funds — for growth, for cash flow, or simply to stay afloat?

In Poland, as everywhere else, there’s no shortage of financial tools. But navigating this labyrinth of loans and leasing options without losing your mind is no task for the faint-hearted. Especially for small and medium-sized businesses, which often face bureaucratic “football” from banks or simply don’t understand all the nuances.

Loans for Small and Medium Businesses: Not All Banks Are Equally Helpful

Imagine this: you need money to expand production, buy a new batch of goods, or simply cover a cash gap. You go to a bank. And what do you get? “Bring document A, then form B, fill out questionnaire C, and wait… maybe we’ll consider your application in a couple of weeks.” Sound familiar?

For small and medium-sized businesses, financing in Poland is a double-edged sword. On one hand, banks offer various products:

• Working capital loans: To cover current needs, buy raw materials, pay salaries. Like air for business — essential.
• Investment loans: When you don’t just want to survive, but to grow. Buying new equipment, opening a branch, launching an innovative project. These involve larger sums — and stricter requirements.
• Development loans: Something in between, often flexible and tailored to specific projects.

The problem is that every bank plays by its own rules. One demands a massive collateral, another offers sky-high interest rates, and a third doesn’t even deal with your type of business. And good luck figuring out who’s bluffing and who simply doesn’t care about “small” clients. Meanwhile, time’s ticking — and competitors don’t sleep!

Leasing: When Ownership Isn’t Necessary, Just Usage

If you need a new vehicle fleet, production line, construction machinery, or even IT equipment — but don’t want or can’t afford to pull large sums out of your cash flow — leasing comes to the rescue. Essentially, it’s long-term rental with a buyout option.

What’s good about leasing?

• Lower upfront costs: The initial payment is usually much lower than with a loan.
• Tax advantages: Leasing payments can often be fully expensed, reducing your taxable base.
• Fast processing: Often quicker and simpler than a traditional bank loan, especially for vehicles.
• Flexibility: You can choose the term, payment size, buyout or return options.

But of course, there are pitfalls. Different leasing companies offer different terms, hidden fees, insurance clauses. And if you’re not an expert, you risk overpaying or getting stuck with a bad deal.

And This is Where Consultants Step In: Not a Cure-All, But a Real Help

You might say: “Okay, the tools exist — but what’s the use if I don’t understand them?” And you’d be absolutely right. Most entrepreneurs are experts in their fields, not in finance.

They’re not magicians who pull money out of thin air. But they are the people who:

• Know the market. They have up-to-date info on offers from banks and leasing companies in Poland. They know who’s friendly to SMEs, who offers the best terms, and who to avoid.
• Save your time. Instead of knocking on the doors of dozens of financial institutions, you come to one intermediary who does all the legwork for you. They contact banks, gather offers, compare them.
• Help with paperwork. They know which documents are needed and how to properly prepare them so your application isn’t rejected over red tape.
• Negotiate. They can get you better conditions — the kind you might not even know were possible.
• Advise. They explain complex financial terms in simple language and help you choose what your business actually needs — not what the bank wants to sell you.

In essence, consultants act as your personal financial guide. They don’t promise gold mountains, but they offer real help in finding and obtaining the funds you need. It’s not a flashy “save your business” mission — it’s a pragmatic approach to solving specific financial problems.

So if your business in Poland needs money — be it for working capital, development investments, or new equipment via leasing — don’t try to deal with the chaos alone. Sometimes, to get the most, all you need is to turn to those who do this professionally every day. And the rest of your time is better spent on what you truly excel at — growing your business.