Our fees
Two services, two ways of charging. Advisory is charged at a fixed fee, from €1,200 excl. VAT, once we have assessed your needs. Brokerage is paid on results only: no fee is due until the funds have been released.
No brokerage fee before the funds are released
This is a mandatory rule of French law, not a sales pitch: Article L. 519-6 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) prohibits any intermediary from receiving any sum by way of deposit, commission, search fees, handling fees, file-preparation fees or brokerage fees before the loan funds have actually been paid out.
We are required to remind you of this (Article R. 519-26 of the same Code), and Article 6 of our brokerage mandate states it expressly.
In practice: if your financing does not go through, you owe us nothing for brokerage.
There is one exception, and it is contractual: the advisory engagement. This is a separate intellectual service, governed by its own engagement letter, and involves no dealings with banks. It is invoiced when the deliverable is handed over. Whether you use it is up to you; it is never a prerequisite for the brokerage mandate.
Advisory & structuring: from €1,200 excl. VAT
We don't sell a package before we understand what you need. Every request starts with a free conversation: we look at where your file stands, what already exists and what is missing. The package we propose follows from that analysis — and if none fits, we draw up a tailored quote.
The scope: bankability
Our work covers the bankability of your project — in other words, its ability to secure financing. Not its accounting viability, which is the job of your farm accounting centre (centre de gestion) or chartered accountant. A project can look viable in a business forecast without being fundable. That gap is exactly what we measure.
Three packages
F1 — Financing optimisation · from €1,200 excl. VAT · 48 to 72 working hours
Who it's for: you have a business forecast and a bank agreement, or your applications are well advanced. Feasibility is established; it's the terms that can still move.
What you receive: an AgriScore bank score, a review of the terms obtained, costed optimisation recommendations (loan terms, financing ratios, own contribution, security) and a 2–3 page summary note.
F2 — Structuring & strategy · from €1,800 excl. VAT · 5 to 7 working days
Who it's for: you have a business forecast but have not yet approached a bank. The file has never been tested against a lender's scrutiny.
What you receive: everything in F1, plus an in-depth financial analysis (balance-sheet structure, self-financing capacity, working capital, structural debt), a stress test of the financing plan on the key variables, and a strategy for presenting the project to financial partners. 5–8 page report.
F3 — Full support · from €2,300 excl. VAT · 7 to 10 working days
Who it's for: you are starting from a bank refusal, you have no business forecast, or your project is complex — a full takeover, a start-up from scratch, mixed investments (land + buildings + equipment + working capital).
What you receive: everything in F2, plus the full construction or reconstruction of the financing plan, comparative scenarios (high, central and downside cases), an analysis of how each category of lender is likely to view the file, a map of the available security and public guarantee schemes, and a structured document pack. 8–12 page report.
Fee schedule
Conseil et structuration — grille tarifaire
Prestation forfaitaire, facturée à la remise du livrable. La formule est proposée après analyse du besoin.
| Montant du financement | F1 Optimisation | F2 Structuration | F3 Accompagnement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jusqu'à 1,3 M€ | 1 200 € HT | 1 800 € HT | 2 300 € HT |
| Au-delà de 1,3 M€ | 1 500 € HT | 2 100 € HT | 2 600 € HT |
| Au-delà de 3 M€ — devis sur mesure, base 3 000 € HT augmentée d'un complément horaire selon la complexité structurelle du dossier. | |||
Délais indicatifs à compter de la réception du dossier complet : 48 à 72 h ouvrées en F1, 5 à 7 jours ouvrés en F2, 7 à 10 jours ouvrés en F3. Validité de l'analyse : 3 mois.
Au-delà de 1,3 M€, le montant ne change pas la formule mais majore le tarif : pool bancaire probable, due diligence renforcée, temps effectif supérieur de 30 à 40 %. Prestations de conseil soumises à la TVA au taux de 20 %.
Prices excl. VAT; VAT at 20% applies. Advisory is a service subject to VAT at the standard rate.
Why a surcharge above €1.3m?
The amount doesn't change the package, it changes the workload: a likely banking pool, deeper due diligence on the ratios and 30–40% more time spent.
How we choose the package
We combine two criteria; the amount then adjusts the price.
How advanced your file is
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Bank refusal or no business forecast → F3
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Business forecast prepared, not yet presented to a bank → F2
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Complete file, applications under way → F1
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Bank agreement obtained, validation needed → F1
Structural complexity
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Single, simple investment → the package given by the first criterion
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Multiple, mixed investments → at least one level higher
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Full farm takeover with partners → F3 minimum
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Start-up from scratch → F3 minimum
If your situation doesn't fit any of these boxes, we'll send you a tailored quote. We never inflate an engagement to squeeze it into a grid.
What advisory never includes
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Preparing your business forecast: that's the job of your farm accounting centre or chartered accountant
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Analysing the project's accounting viability
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Dealing and negotiating with lenders: that falls under the brokerage mandate
-
Legal, tax or wealth-planning advice
The scope of the analysis is fixed on the date we receive the complete file; any substantial change to the project requires an amendment. The analysis is valid for 3 months. If a broader need emerges during the engagement, moving up to a higher package is formalised by an amendment, and you only pay the difference.
Brokerage & negotiation: 2% on a sliding scale, minimum €3,000
The brokerage commission is due only if the deal goes ahead: signature of the loan offer or financing agreement, and actual release of the funds. It is calculated on the amount actually released, not the amount requested.
Commission schedule
Courtage et négociation — grille de commission
Commission due uniquement après signature de l'offre et déblocage effectif des fonds, calculée sur le montant réellement débloqué.
| Montant financé | Taux de commission | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| Jusqu'à 1,3 M€ | 2,00 % | 650 000 € → 13 000 € |
| 1,3 M€ – 2,2 M€ | 1,75 % | 1 600 000 € → 28 000 € |
| 2,2 M€ – 3,5 M€ | 1,60 % | 3 200 000 € → 51 200 € |
| 3,5 M€ – 5 M€ | 1,40 % | 4 200 000 € → 58 800 € |
| 5 M€ – 7,5 M€ | 1,20 % | 6 800 000 € → 81 600 € |
| Au-delà de 7,5 M€ | 1,00 % | 9 000 000 € → 90 000 € |
Minimum de commission : 3 000 € sur tout dossier relevant de cette grille. Un financement de 120 000 € donnerait 2 400 € au taux de 2 % ; c'est le minimum qui s'applique.
La commission est indépendante des frais de dossier bancaires, des frais de garantie et de cautionnement, des frais de notaire et de la fiscalité, facturés par des tiers. Règlement au déblocage, par prélèvement SEPA ou par retenue sur les fonds par l'établissement de crédit ou le notaire.
Rémunération de négociation de crédit, exonérée de TVA sans possibilité d'option — article 261 C, 1° a du Code général des impôts.
Fee for negotiating credit: exempt from VAT, with no option to charge VAT — Article 261 C, 1° a of the French General Tax Code (Code général des impôts).
Some examples
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Financing of €180,000 → 2.00% → €3,600
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Financing of €120,000 → 2.00% = €2,400, so the minimum applies → €3,000
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Financing of €650,000 → 2.00% → €13,000
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Financing of €1,600,000 → 1.75% → €28,000
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Financing of €3,200,000 → 1.60% → €51,200
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Financing of €6,800,000 → 1.20% → €81,600
Basis and payment terms
The commission is based on the total amount actually released. It is separate from bank arrangement fees, guarantee fees, notary fees and taxes, which are charged by third parties.
Payment is made when the funds are released: either by bank transfer or SEPA direct debit once the invoice has been issued, or directly by deduction from the financed funds by the lender or the notary, depending on the type of deed.
What the mandate covers
Amortising loans, bridging loans, bullet loans, leasing, land or property lease-to-buy schemes, and any solution that allows the project to go ahead. The mandate also covers loan insurance and income-protection cover (garantie prévoyance).
It does not cover preparing your business forecast, nor the advisory services described above: these are two separate contracts with two separate scopes.
Two special cases
Some transactions fall outside the commission schedule: equipment on hire purchase, which is charged at a flat fee, and land or property lease-to-buy schemes, charged at 1.00% of the total value of the transaction carried. The €3,000 minimum does not apply to equipment on hire purchase.
Deux cas particuliers hors grille
Matériel en location-vente
Location-vente, LOA, crédit-bail mobilier et formules assimilées relèvent d'un forfait, hors grille.
| Moins de 70 000 € | 500 € |
| 70 000 € et plus | 1 000 € |
Le minimum de 3 000 € ne s'applique pas. Commission due à la signature du contrat et à la mise à disposition effective du matériel.
Portage foncier ou immobilier
Société de portage, foncière ou investisseur privé, avec bail et le cas échéant option de rachat : 1,00 % du montant total de la transaction portée, foncier et bâtiments compris.
Hors frais de notaire, fiscalité et frais annexes. Commission due à la réalisation effective de l'opération : signature des actes ou mise à disposition effective du bien.
What is charged — and what isn't
Never charged
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The first conversation and the assessment of your needs
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Scoping the engagement and the proposal that follows
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Brokerage, until the funds are released
Fixed fee, invoiced when the deliverable is handed over
-
Advisory engagements (from €1,200 excl. VAT)
Charged on results, after the funds are released
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The brokerage commission (2% on a sliding scale, minimum €3,000)
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The flat fee for equipment on hire purchase (€500 or €1,000)
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The land or property lease-to-buy commission (1.00%)
Charged by third parties, never by us
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Bank arrangement fees, security and guarantee fees
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Notary fees, registration duties, taxes
-
Fees of your farm accounting centre or chartered accountant
Frequently asked questions about our fees
How much does a farm finance broker cost?
At Agricourtage, the brokerage commission starts at 2% of the amount financed and decreases as the amount rises, down to 1% above €7.5m. A minimum of €3,000 applies. An advisory engagement — optional and separate from brokerage — is charged at a fixed fee from €1,200 excl. VAT.
Do I have to pay before I get the financing?
No — French law prohibits it. Article L. 519-6 of the French Monetary and Financial Code prohibits any intermediary from receiving any sum before the loan funds are actually paid out. Only an advisory engagement, contracted separately and involving no dealings with banks, can be invoiced upfront.
What happens if the financing doesn't go through?
You owe nothing for brokerage. The commission is only due if the deal goes ahead, as shown by the signature of the offer and the release of the funds.
Is the commission based on the amount requested or the amount obtained?
On the amount actually released. If you apply for €800,000 and the deal closes at €720,000, the commission is based on €720,000.
Why a €3,000 minimum?
Because preparing a farm financing application involves a workload that bears little relation to the amount borrowed: analysis, structuring, approaching several lenders, negotiation, coordination until the funds are released. Below a certain threshold, the percentage does not cover the work.
Do I need an advisory engagement before using brokerage?
No. They are two independent services with two separate contracts. Some clients come with a ready file and sign a brokerage mandate straight away. Others need to build or rebuild their file first — that's where advisory comes in.
How is the commission paid?
After the funds are released and the invoice is issued, either by bank transfer or SEPA direct debit, or directly by deduction from the financed funds by the lender or the notary, depending on whether the deal is concluded by private agreement or by notarial deed.
Are your fees subject to VAT?
Advisory services are subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%. The brokerage commission, which pays for negotiating credit, is exempt from VAT under Article 261 C, 1° a of the French General Tax Code.
Are you paid by the banks?
No. We have no partnership agreement with any lender and we act solely under the mandate you give us. No institution holds a stake in our capital, and none accounts for more than a third of our intermediation revenue. Only loan insurance gives rise to a commission, paid by the insurer at no cost to you.
Let's talk about your project
The first conversation is free and commits you to nothing. Together we look at where your file stands, and we'll tell you frankly whether an advisory engagement is justified or whether you can go straight to a brokerage mandate.
AGRICOURTAGE, simplified joint-stock company (SAS) with share capital of €1,000, registered office 3 route de Kervos, 22530 Guerlédan, France — Saint-Brieuc Trade and Companies Register (RCS) 102 230 729.
Registered with ORIAS (the French register of insurance, banking and finance intermediaries) under no. 26011314 as a credit and payment services broker (courtier en opérations de banque et en services de paiement – COBSP) — can be checked at www.orias.fr.
Supervisory authority: Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR – the French prudential supervision and resolution authority), 4 place de Budapest, CS 92459, 75436 Paris Cedex 09, France.
Complaints: Complaints Department, Agricourtage, 3 route de Kervos, 22530 Guerlédan, France — contact@agricourtage.fr.
Amounts shown are subject to change; only the amounts in the signed engagement letter or mandate are binding.