Banks have become more restrictive with lending. This is a hurdle for medium-sized companies that want to grow. But there are options beyond the traditional and increasingly difficult route via credit institutions. Suppliers who tie up a lot of capital in inventory with their customers have a new option that expands working capital management: stock trading. This innovative form of inventory and sales financing optimizes working capital and the balance sheet.

As unexpectedly as the economy may have recovered after the financial and economic crisis, German SMEs are now facing a new problem: they often do not know how to generate liquidity during the upswing. In this context, it is important to quickly realize cyclical effects, which could soon be over again. For entrepreneurs, there are usually only two alternatives: either they put research and development, expansion and acquisition on hold, or they try to get banks on board in the classic way.

Banks continue to be restrictive in granting loans and will in all likelihood remain so. Under the heading of Basel III, the new regulations will have a direct impact on the financing options available to medium-sized companies. Lending conditions will tighten as collateral and disclosure requirements increase and risk margins widen. The savings banks even see a third of their customer loans at risk. If the plans of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision are implemented, the credit supply of the savings banks alone will be reduced by more than 200 billion euros, according to a position paper of the German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DSGV). According to the DSGV, small and medium-sized enterprises would be particularly affected.

It is true that, from the government's point of view, the stricter rules for credit institutions are consistent. For the chronically equity-weak German SME sector - the average equity ratio is 11 to 15 percent - this course is risky.