Technical opinion of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for start-ups

If you are unemployed and want to start a business, you can apply for a start-up grant from the employment agency. For this, you need the opinion of an expert body on your business concept.

You should first clarify any questions relating to funding with the relevant employment agency. You can also apply for a start-up grant there.

A prerequisite for the start-up grant from the employment agency is that an expert body has examined your business idea and considers it to be viable. You can choose the contact person for the opinion. This can be, for example, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

During the viability test, your business concept is checked for plausibility and comprehensibility. The decisive factor is whether you can live from the implementation of the business idea after a start-up phase.

In addition to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, other bodies can also assess the viability of your project:

• Chambers of Crafts,
• professional chambers,
• trade associations,
• credit institutions,
• Others (tax consultants, auditors, start-up initiatives, etc.)

In the event of justified doubts, the employment agency may again request the submission of an opinion from an expert body.

In order to receive an opinion, at least the following documents are required:

• Brief description of the business start-up project
• Curriculum vitae
• Capital requirements and financing plan
• Turnover and profitability forecast
• Evidence of business activity to date, for example a written report on your entrepreneurial activities and outlook for business development in the coming months, overview of income and expenditure, incoming orders or efforts to obtain orders.

In general, it is advisable to draw up a comprehensive business plan (templates and samples are available, for example, from specialist agencies) as well as the preparation of a liquidity plan, at least for the intended funding period.

• Forms: Application for a statement on the start-up grant from the IHK, form "Request for a statement from an expert body on the viability of the business start-up".
• Personal appearance necessary: according to the requirements of the expert body
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form requirement: no

• Your business concept is comprehensibly presented
• Your business concept is sustainable, i.e. you can expect to make a living from it

No formal remedies available

The statement is a step towards receiving the start-up grant. Please first contact your employment agency and find out whether you are eligible for a start-up grant.

If you apply for the start-up grant at the employment agency and would like to obtain the opinion of a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for this purpose, please proceed as follows:

• You contact your IHK and arrange an interview.
• Prepare the necessary documents (brief description of the business start-up project, curriculum vitae, capital requirement and financing plan, turnover and profitability forecast, also recommended: liquidity plan).
• It is often necessary to send the documents to the IHK before the interview.

After the interview, you will receive the assessment of the expert body from the IHK, which you will then send to the employment agency. Ask the IHK about possible deviating procedures..

Please enquire about the processing time with the competent office.

As a rule, a fee is charged. You can find out more details from your IHK.

You can find out more about start-up grants and a way to make appointments here: Website of the Employment Agency

You can find the Chamber of Industry and Commerce responsible for you here: IHK Competence Finder