How to Fund a Tattoo Studio in Romania: SME Loans, Credit Lines and Women-Entrepreneur Grants
A tattoo studio needs money from day one: machines, an autoclave, furniture, a space that meets health-code sterilization rules. Few artists start with enough personal capital, and Romanian banks treat the personal-services CAEN code with caution. Real funding paths still exist — from non-repayable grants to fast microloans — each with its own rules and paperwork.
The real funding sources for opening a tattoo studio in Romania — the Femeia Antreprenor women's grant, Start-Up Nation, IMM Invest loans and fast IFN microloans — with the paperwork each one asks for.
Why classic bank loans are hard to get on a tattoo studio's CAEN code
Tattoo and piercing studios are usually registered under CAEN code 9609 (other personal service activities), alongside various personal-care businesses. Banks see a young business with partly cash revenue, no expensive fixed assets to use as collateral, and — if the company is newly founded — no financial history to review. The result: PFA/SRL applications with no track record are turned down often for classic bank credit, even with a solid business plan. That's why most studios end up combining sources — grant, state-backed guarantee, microloan — instead of relying on a single product.
Start-Up Nation: a non-repayable grant, tied to hiring obligations
Start-Up Nation offers non-repayable funding of up to 100,000 lei if you create and keep one full-time job, or up to 200,000 lei for two jobs — in both cases covering up to 95% of eligible expenses. The core condition: the administrator or majority shareholder must have completed the program's entrepreneurship training module before applying for the financing stage, and the company must meet the SME definition under Law 346/2004. The jobs created must be kept for at least 24 months after implementation ends — if a brand-new studio can't realistically carry one or two salaries, run the numbers before applying, since failing the condition can mean paying part of the grant back. Applications go entirely through the granturi.imm.gov.ro platform.
Femeia Antreprenor: up to 200,000 lei non-repayable for women-led companies
The National Multiannual Program for Developing Entrepreneurial Culture Among Women Managers — known as Femeia Antreprenor — grants up to 200,000 lei to microenterprises and SMEs where at least one female shareholder holds a minimum of 50% of the shares and the share capital is fully private. The 2024 edition entered its payment-release stage in 2026, with a budget allocation of roughly 200 million lei and an estimated target of 1,000 beneficiaries nationwide — real competition for a limited pot. Applications and case management run through granturi.imm.gov.ro as well.
Eligible CAEN code lists change between editions of every program — a code eligible in 2022 isn't automatically eligible in 2026. Confirm against the current edition's official list, not an old one you found online. Femeia Antreprenor also checks for outstanding debt to ANAF (Romania's tax authority) — a clean tax record is required at submission.
IMM Invest / IMM Invest Micro: state-guaranteed bank loans
For already-registered companies, the Romanian state guarantees part of a bank loan through FNGCIMM, cutting the amount of collateral you need to put up yourself. On the standard track, the guarantee can reach 4,000,000 lei and cover up to 80% of the financing, with an annual guarantee fee of 1.7% to 2.65% set by scoring. More relevant for a brand-new studio is the IMM Invest Micro startup segment: a state guarantee of up to 90%, open to companies with 3-6 months of activity and a credible business plan, with ceilings up to 500,000 lei for working capital and up to 1,000,000 lei for investment spending. The documentation requested at the review stage typically includes the latest balance sheet or trial balance, the minimis-aid declaration, the ONRC company registration certificate, and a short economic explanation of why the business can carry the repayments.
Bank credit lines and IFN microloans — the fast route without a track record
If the company doesn't yet have the history for a classic bank loan, three more accessible routes exist: IFN (non-bank financial institution) microloans between 5,000 and 50,000 lei, approved in 1-5 business days with minimal paperwork — ID, bank statement, income declaration; unsecured credit lines for sole traders (PFA) and small companies, usually capped around 150,000 lei for a PFA; and factoring, if the studio already issues invoices (collaborations with other artists, events, guest spots) — cash arrives against unpaid invoices without classic collateral. For larger amounts, commercial banks (Raiffeisen, BCR, ProCredit) offer microenterprise loans up to 500,000-750,000 lei, but generally require at least 6-12 months of financial history.
Whatever the source, the money tends to go toward the same three categories: tattoo machines and gear, sterilization equipment that meets health-code rules, and studio furniture.
Core equipment for a new studio
Sterilization equipment for health-code compliance
Studio furniture and fit-out
The paperwork to prepare from day one
- ONRC company registration certificate, recently issued (no older than 30 days for most programs)
- Clean tax record for the company and a clean criminal record for the administrator/shareholders
- Self-declaration regarding minimis state aid
- Business plan with objectives, a detailed budget, and a 12-24 month cash-flow projection
- Latest balance sheet or trial balance, if the company already exists
- Bank statements for the last 3-6 months
- ID documents for shareholders/administrator and proof of registered office or workplace
- For Femeia Antreprenor: the incorporation document or certificate proving the female ownership percentage
Funding ceilings, scoring criteria and eligible CAEN codes change between editions of every state program. An accountant or an EU-funds consultant can confirm exact eligibility before you prepare the file — it saves the time lost to an application rejected on administrative grounds.
Browse starter equipment for a new studio →
Surse și referințe
Întrebări frecvente
Can I apply to Femeia Antreprenor if I'm a male tattoo artist?+
Not directly — the program requires at least one female shareholder holding a minimum of 50% of the company's shares. You can still found the company together with a business partner who meets that condition.
Do I need the company already registered before applying?+
It depends on the program. Start-Up Nation lets you register the company after completing the training module; Femeia Antreprenor usually requires an existing company at the time of application; the IMM Invest Micro startup segment requires at least 3-6 months of activity.
What happens if I can't keep the jobs required by Start-Up Nation?+
You risk having to repay part or all of the grant, plus penalties. Run realistic numbers before applying on how many salaries the studio can carry in its first months.
Is the tattoo CAEN code always eligible for these programs?+
It's not guaranteed. Eligible CAEN code lists change between editions of each program — check the official list current for the year you're applying, not one from a previous edition.
How long does an IFN microloan take to get approved?+
Usually 1-5 business days with minimal paperwork. The trade-off is smaller amounts — 5,000 to 50,000 lei — compared to a classic bank loan or a state-guaranteed one.
Can I combine several funding sources for the same studio?+
Yes, that's common practice — for example a grant for core equipment plus a credit line or microloan for working capital in the first months. Check each program's rules on whether it allows stacking with other funding.