How Our Funding Support Works
From your first free consultation to money in your bank account: every step, who does what, and how long it realistically takes.
Related:JFC Startup Loan GuideCan Foreigners Get a Business Loan in Japan?Document Checklist
At a Glance
| Total time | About 2–3 months from first consultation to funding (if your residence status and company are already in place) |
| Your time commitment | About 10–15 hours in total: gathering documents, 2–3 meetings with us, and the JFC interview |
| Language | All communication with us in English. We prepare Japanese documents and coach you for the Japanese interview |
| Meetings | Online (Zoom / Google Meet) or in person in Tokyo |
| Point of contact | One English-speaking consultant from start to finish |
The 7 Steps
Step 1: Free Consultation (30 minutes)
Week 0We discuss your business idea, funding needs, and current situation, and check the key eligibility points: residence status, remaining period of stay, own funds, and payment record.
briefly describe your business and how much you want to borrow. No documents needed yet.
tell you honestly whether you are ready to apply now, what needs to be fixed first, and which funding route fits (JFC, guaranteed bank loan, or both).
Outcome: a clear yes / not yet, with next steps. No obligation.
Step 2: Funding Readiness Diagnosis
Week 1After you decide to proceed, we review your situation in detail.
share bank statements, residence card, career history, and any existing quotes or contracts (we send you a simple list).
assess your own funds and how to document them (including overseas savings), check for risks that commonly lead to rejection, and decide the target loan amount and structure.
Outcome: a written diagnosis with the recommended loan amount, timing, and a document to-do list.
Step 3: Document Collection
Weeks 1–3collect certificates (住民票, tax certificates, etc.) and quotes from suppliers. We tell you exactly which version to request and at which office.
track progress, check each document as it arrives, and arrange Japanese translations where needed.
Tip: this step takes the longest when documents come from overseas or quotes are slow. Starting early saves weeks.
Step 4: Bilingual Business Plan
Weeks 2–4This is the core of your application.
join 1–2 interview sessions (about 60–90 minutes each) where we ask about your business, customers, pricing, and costs.
write your business plan in JFC's official format (創業計画書) in Japanese, plus a detailed supplementary plan with sales forecast and cash flow. You receive an English version so you understand every number.
Outcome: a lender-ready plan reviewed by a government-certified SME Management Consultant (中小企業診断士). If you also need a Business Manager visa, we make sure your visa and loan plans are consistent.
Step 5: Application Submission
Week 4–5review the final documents and approve submission.
do a final consistency check across all documents and guide you through submission to JFC.
Step 6: Interview Preparation and JFC Interview
About 1–2 weeks after submissionJFC invites you to an interview with a loan officer, usually at the branch that covers your business address. A site visit may follow.
attend the interview and explain your plan in your own words.
run 2 mock interview sessions in Japanese using the questions loan officers actually ask, prepare answer notes in English and Japanese, and advise on interpretation if needed.
Step 7: Decision and Funding
About 2–3 weeks after the interviewsign the loan agreement (with your registered seal, 実印) and receive the funds in your Japanese bank account.
explain the loan contract terms in English and answer any questions from JFC during the review.
Outcome: funds in your account, typically 1–2 months after submission.
Typical Timeline
| Step | Weeks |
|---|---|
| 1–2. Consultation & diagnosis | 1 |
| 3. Document collection | 1–3 |
| 4. Business plan | 2–4 |
| 5. Submission | 4–5 |
| 6. Interview prep & JFC interview | 5–7 |
| 7. JFC review, decision & funding | 7–10 |
Actual timing depends on how quickly documents are ready and on JFC's workload at the time.
If You Are Starting from Zero
If you do not yet have a company, a corporate bank account, or the right residence status, those steps come first. The order matters, and we coordinate them with our partner professionals.
| Your situation | What comes before the loan | Typical total time to funding |
|---|---|---|
| Residence status OK, company already set up, bank account open | Nothing. Start at Step 1 | About 2–3 months |
| Residence status OK, but no company yet | Incorporation (KK or GK) and corporate bank account opening. The loan application can be prepared in parallel | About 3–4 months |
| Need to change to, or newly apply for, a Business Manager visa | Visa strategy, incorporation, capital, office, and visa application. Loan timing is planned around your visa | Varies considerably. Ask us for a personal plan |
Corporate bank account opening for foreign-owned companies can take several weeks. Immigration processing times vary. Company registration and visa applications are handled by our licensed partner professionals (Shiho-shoshi, Gyosei-shoshi).
After Funding: We Stay With You
Getting the loan is the start, not the end. After funding, we can help with:
- Bookkeeping and tax (through our partner tax accountants), keeping records that lenders and immigration will review later
- Loan repayment and cash-flow planning
- Visa renewal: your business results and tax compliance matter for renewal under the 2025 rules
- Second-round funding: JFC and banks look at how you used and repaid your first loan when you apply again
Fees
| Service | Fee (incl. 10% consumption tax) |
|---|---|
| Free Consultation (30 min) | Free |
| Funding Readiness Diagnosis | ¥33,000 (credited in full if you proceed with the Full Support Package) |
| Full Support Package (Steps 2–7) | Upfront fee ¥55,000 + success fee 3% of the approved loan amount |
| Business Plan Only (JFC format, Japanese + English version) | ¥165,000 |
| Interview Coaching Only (2 sessions) | ¥44,000 |
| Additional translation | From ¥5,500 per page |
Our fee cap: total fees for loan support, including upfront and success fees, never exceed 5% of the approved loan amount. If the loan is not approved, no success fee is charged.
We will always give you a written quote before any paid work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Start?
Book a free 30-minute consultation in English. We will review your situation and tell you honestly whether and when you can apply.
This page describes our typical process. Timelines are estimates and depend on each applicant's circumstances and on JFC's review. JFC makes all lending decisions. This page is not financial, legal, or immigration advice. Information as of September 2026.
HAKATAYA acts as your English-speaking concierge in Japan, bridging foreign founders with trusted accounting and legal experts.