Apply for a start-up grant

You must apply for the start-up grant at the Federal Employment Agency:

• Make an appointment for a consultation at the Federal Employment Agency. You can do this by telephone via the employee hotline or online on the Federal Employment Agency's website.
• Your advisor will discuss with you what financial assistance is available for start-ups and what requirements you need to meet.
• An expert body must then give your start-up project a positive assessment. You are free to choose the expert body. Expert bodies for the preparation of expert opinions are in particular
  • Chambers of Industry and Commerce,
  • Chambers of Crafts,
  • guilds,
  • professional chambers,
  • professional associations or
  • credit institutions.
• The employment agency will also check whether you meet the professional requirements for carrying out the intended self-employed activity.
• Your employment agency will provide you with an application form, which you fill in and submit together with all the documents.
• The Employment Agency will initially approve the start-up grant for 6 months.
• In order to receive the reduced subsidy for a further 9 months, you must submit a new application and prove that you have actually carried out the self-employed activity and that you can be expected to be able to support yourself after the end of the subsidy.

If you would like to apply for the start-up grant online:

• Following the consultation, your contact person will provide you with the application and other forms in the BA's eServices portal. You will find the documents in your profile in the "Cash benefits and other benefits" section.
• You obtain the opinion of the expert body and prepare all other documents.
• You submit the application for start-up grant phase 1 online by accessing the BA's eServices portal and selecting the "Start-up grant phase 1" process in your profile. There you have the option of uploading and submitting the application and other documents.
• After successful verification, you will find the approval notice in your profile in the "Notice filing" area, provided you have agreed to online delivery.
• You will receive the start-up grant for 6 months.
• After phase 1, you can apply for the start-up grant for phase 2. You will find all the information and the application form for the start-up grant phase 2 in your profile in good time.

You can find the office of the Federal Employment Agency responsible for you via the office finder.

You can find the office of the Federal Employment Agency responsible for you via the office finder.

• You receive unemployment benefit from an employment agency.
• You still have a remaining entitlement to unemployment benefit of at least 150 days when you take up self-employment.
• You can prove that you have the knowledge and skills to carry out the self-employed activity.
• You can provide a positive opinion from an expert body on the viability of the business start-up. Expert bodies are, for example, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Chamber of Crafts or banks.
• You have not yet reached the required age for drawing the standard old-age pension.

• Proof of your knowledge and skills for self-employment (e.g. proof of qualifications, professional experience or participation in measures to prepare for setting up a business).

If you wish to exercise a trade or self-employed activity that requires a permit, you will also need

• a permit to exercise the respective trade or self-employed activity
• for trades or trades-related professions:
  • confirmation of entry in the register of craftsmen at the Chamber of Crafts

You must also submit an expert opinion on the viability of the business start-up. For this you need

• a description of the business start-up project to explain the business idea (business plan),
• your curriculum vitae (including proof of qualifications),
• a capital requirement and financing plan,
• a turnover and profitability forecast

There are generally no costs. However, depending on your choice of expert, you may incur costs for the certification of the viability of your business start-up. You must bear these costs yourself.

You must submit the application before you become self-employed.

• § Section 93 of the Third Book of the German Social Code (SGB III)
• § Section 94 of the Third Book of the German Social Code (SGB III)

• Contradiction

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: Yes (to meet the deadline)
Personal appearance required: Yes
Online services available: Yes

Before becoming self-employed, please contact your health and pension insurance provider to find out about your insurance obligations and the options for continued insurance.

As a self-employed person, you can also apply for compulsory unemployment insurance.

17.04.2023