Apply for grants for consulting to promote entrepreneurial know-how

If you would like to take advantage of consulting services for your company, you can receive funding for this under certain conditions.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and members of the liberal professions can receive grants for expert business advice.

The subsidy for expert advice is intended to help strengthen the performance and competitiveness of your company and make it easier to adapt to changing economic conditions. In the case of young companies, the aim is to ensure the stability of the start-up. Companies in difficulty receive a grant to restore their performance and competitiveness.

Funding is generally provided for general advice on all economic, financial, personnel and organizational problems relating to company management.
In addition, special consultations can also be funded, for example

• in companies run by female entrepreneurs,
• in companies run by migrants,
• in companies run by entrepreneurs with a recognized disability,
• to improve the integration of employees with a migration background into the company,
• to organize work for employees with disabilities,
• to recruit and secure skilled workers,
• equality and better reconciliation of work and family life,
• the age-appropriate organization of work,
• sustainability and environmental protection.

The amount of the grant depends on the age and location of the company seeking advice:

• Young companies (no more than 2 years on the market): up to EUR 4,000,
• Existing companies (more than 2 years on the market): up to EUR 3,000.

The funding rates are as follows:

• New federal states: 80 percent,
• Lüneburg region: 60 percent,
• old federal states, Berlin, Leipzig region: 50 percent,
• Companies in difficulty, regardless of age and location: 90 percent subsidy on a maximum consultancy fee of EUR 3,000.

Consultancy services are not eligible for funding,

• which are financed in whole or in part from other public funds,
• whose purpose is aimed at the sale of specific goods or services by the consultant,
• which are primarily concerned with legal and insurance issues, tax consultancy activities or expert opinions.

Funding is generally excluded if:

• You yourself provide or wish to provide business consulting services,
• you use the consultancy services for a company in which religious communities, legal entities under public law or their own companies have a majority shareholding,
• insolvency proceedings have been applied for or opened against the assets of your company or if the requirements for this are met,
• your company is a non-profit organization.

• Consulting report
• Consultant invoice
• Proof of payment (bank statement)
• Confirmation letter from a regional contact (only for start-ups and companies in difficulty)

• Forms: no
• Online procedure: yes
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: no

• You are the owner of a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in the commercial sector (according to the EU definition) or
• a freelancer,
• Your company has its registered office and business operations or a branch office in Germany,
• You employed fewer than 250 employees in the last financial year before the start of the consultation and either had an annual turnover of no more than EUR 50 million or an annual balance sheet total of no more than EUR 43 million,
• the consultancy is carried out by an independent consultant or a consultancy firm whose turnover is generated by more than 50 percent from paid management consultancy. The consultants must provide evidence of their expertise as part of the funding program.
• They have paid the consulting invoice at least in the amount of their own contribution. The personal contribution is calculated from the aforementioned maximum consulting costs minus the expected grant.

You can apply online for a subsidy towards the costs of a planned business consultancy:

• If you are applying for a start-up company or a company in difficulty, you must have an information meeting with a regional contact person. You will then receive a letter of confirmation, which you must submit together with your application. Existing companies do not have to have such an interview.
• Submit your application for funding for a management consultancy via the website www.bafa.de/unb.
• If your application is approved, you will receive a notification by post ("Inaussichtstellung").
• You can now sign a contract with the consultancy firm and start the consultancy.
• You must submit proof of use of the completed consultation no later than 6 months after you have received the "Inaussichtstellung". To do this, follow the instructions on the online form. You can also submit the proof of use online at www.bafa.unb. To do this, fill out the proof of use form online, print it out, sign it and upload the signed form together with the consultancy report, the consultant invoice, the bank statement showing payment of the consultancy costs and the letter of confirmation from the regional contact (only start-ups and companies in difficulty).
• The responsible office will transfer the grant to the account you have specified once you have submitted the complete documents.

• Application: No later than 3 months after the information meeting (for start-ups and companies in difficulty)
• Submission of proof of use: no later than 6 months after receipt of the prospectus

If all documents are complete, approval and payment can be made within a few days.

none

Fee free of charge

Before submitting an application, start-ups and companies in difficulty must have an information meeting with a regional contact person. Advice may not begin before the application has been submitted. A consultancy contract may also not be concluded before the application is submitted.