Vision
Our Purpose
Respect Microfinance provides job-linked financing for tradespeople and vocational workers who need tools, equipment, training, or certifications to earn more.
Traditional lenders aren't always designed for small, specialized financing needs. We focus instead on the worker, what they need, and the economic opportunity behind the investment.
We finance productive assets and expenses directly, with transparent repayment terms and no compounding interest.
The idea is simple: put useful capital behind capable people.
Our Offerings
Supporting Your Success
Tools & Equipment Financing
Finance job-critical tools and equipment without taking on unrestricted consumer debt.
Training & Credential Financing
Fund certifications, licenses and training tied to clear employment or income opportunities.
Business Growth Capital
Help established tradespeople make the next productive investment as they move from worker to independent operator or business owner.
Apply
Why us?
Apply for Financing
$2,500–$25,000 typical financing
Tools • Equipment • Training • Certifications • Business Growth
1. Download the application to the right
2. Complete the requested information
3. Email it to respectmicrofinance@gmail.com
Download application here
About
James Schroeder, Founder of Respect Microfinance
My background spans investment banking at Goldman Sachs, asset management at PIMCO, and private equity at TechMet.
I founded Respect to put that experience toward something personal and practical: helping skilled people build stronger livelihoods. My approach combines financial discipline with understanding the person, their work, and what they need to increase their earning power.
Our
Story
Get to Know Us
Respect Microfinance began with a family story.
My grandfather, Arden Schroeder, was a welder and soybean farmer in Racine, Wisconsin. He made his living through skill, hard work, and long days—fixing what he could, maintaining his equipment, and finding ways to keep moving through difficult seasons.
His world taught me something simple: for people who work with their hands, the right tool or piece of equipment isn't just a purchase. It's productive capacity. It can determine what jobs you can take, how efficiently you can work, and ultimately how much you can earn.
Yet relatively small investments in tools, equipment, training, and credentials don't always fit neatly into the financial system. A capable worker may have the skills and opportunity to earn more but lack access to the financing needed to make that next investment.
That's the gap Respect Microfinance was created to address.
My grandfather built his livelihood with his hands. Respect Microfinance is built around a simple idea: put useful capital behind capable people.