What the Gründungszuschuss is (in plain English)

The Gründungszuschuss supports you financially in the first months after you register a full-time self-employment that ends your unemployment. It’s administered by the Agentur für Arbeit and awarded at the agency’s discretion (“Ermessensleistung”), based on the viability of your business plan and your personal suitability to found.

How much and for how long?

The grant is paid in two phases:

• Phase 1 (first 6 months): You receive an amount equivalent to your last ALG I plus a flat €300/month for social security.

• Phase 2 (next 9 months, optional): If you can prove active, full-time business activity, you can receive €300/month for a further 9 months. (You must apply for this extension separately and provide evidence.)

Important: The agency can ask for updated proof of activity and even another expert opinion before approving the extension.

Who is eligible?

You typically qualify if you:

• are receiving ALG I and will still have at least 150 days of entitlement left at the start of your self-employment (exceptions exist for people with disabilities under §19 SGB III), and

• plan to work at least 15 hours/week so that self-employment is your main job and ends your unemployment.

The grant is not automatic; you must convince your adviser that the concept is viable and that funding is necessary to bridge your start-up phase.

Can I get it again later?

As a rule, no second grant within 24 months of a previous, subsidised start. Exceptions are possible if the earlier self-employment failed due to personal reasons (e.g., illness/accident) rather than the business idea.

What documents do I need?

Expect to prepare:

• Business plan and financial forecasts (capital needs, financing plan, liquidity and profitability).

• Positive “Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung” (viability certificate) from a fachkundige Stelle (e.g., IHK/Handwerkskammer, banks, tax advisers).

• CV and relevant qualifications.

Many IHKs provide checklists and will review your plan; processing typically takes up to about two weeks depending on quality.

When and where do I apply?

• You apply via your local Agentur für Arbeit.

• Speak to your adviser before you register the business, so your timing (ALG I entitlement and start date) aligns with the rules. The agency provides the application forms and will guide you through the steps.

Step-by-step: How to apply (and actually get approved)

1. Initial advice session (Agentur für Arbeit). Clarify eligibility (ALG I days, timing) and obtain the application pack.

2. Write a bank-ready business plan. Include market analysis, positioning, pricing, and a realistic 12–36-month liquidity/profit plan.

3. Get your plan checked by a fachkundige Stelle (IHK/HWK/bank/tax adviser) and obtain the viability certificate.

4. Register your self-employment (Freiberufler at the tax office; Gewerbe at the trade office, if applicable), and complete any sector-specific registrations.

5. Submit your application to the Agentur für Arbeit with all attachments. Answer follow-up questions promptly.

6. After 6 months, if you are active full-time, apply for Phase 2 (€300/month for 9 months) with evidence of operations (invoices, contracts, tax number, banking, marketing, etc.).

Common reasons applications are rejected (and how to avoid them)

• Over-optimistic numbers (e.g., high profits from month 1 → “not needed”). Keep forecasts realistic and show how the grant secures your living costs and social security early on.

• Weak or vague business model. Your IHK or a tax adviser can help tighten the plan before submission.

• Part-time intent (<15 hours/week) or a job offer that could end unemployment → grant unlikely.

• Prior grant within 24 months without qualifying exception.

Berlin-specific notes

Your IHK in Berlin can issue the viability statement and provides local guidance on the two-phase structure and €300/month social-security flat rate. Check their page and templates before writing your plan.

FAQs

Is the grant taxable?
The €300 flat rate is typically used for social security; overall tax treatment depends on your total income situation ask your tax adviser. (General overview: see official and specialist guidance.)

Can I switch back to employment during the grant?
Yes, but the grant ends; reapplying is generally blocked within 24 months, unless an allowed exception applies.

Do I need to be a “Gewerbe” or can I be a Freiberufler?
Both are possible; the key is that the activity is self-employment and main occupation (≥15 hours/week) that ends unemployment.

How ExpatEaze helps (and why it improves outcomes)

• Pre-application strategy call: We check your timing (ALG I days), funding logic, and the best start date.

• Business-plan coaching: We review your concept and numbers to meet IHK/Agentur expectations.

• Paperwork + translation: We prepare and translate forms; you focus on the business.

• Accompaniment to appointments: We attend meetings (Agentur für Arbeit / IHK) and interpret live.

• Phase-2 readiness: After 6 months, we help compile evidence for the €300/month extension.

I’ve supported hundreds of expats through German bureaucracy often on last-minute bookings so you can start your business with clarity and confidence.

Authoritative links (start here)

• Agentur für Arbeit – Gründungszuschuss overview & phases: application, eligibility, Phase-2 extension. Bundesagentur für Arbeit+1

• Law (SGB III) – §§ 93–94: legal basis, duration, amount. Gesetze im InternetSozialgesetzbuch

• BMWK Existenzgründungsportal – “Ermessensleistung” and viability/plan requirements. Existenzgründungsportal+1

• IHK Berlin – local notes on amounts, phases, and viability statements. Industrie- und Handelskammer

• IHK resources on “fachkundige Stellungnahme” – what to submit for the viability check. IHK Bonn/Rhein-Sieg

Final takeaway

The Gründungszuschuss is doable with the right timing, a solid plan, and the correct paperwork. Treat it like pitching to a cautious investor: show need, viability, and professional prep and you’ll maximize your chances of approval.

If you’d like, I can also turn this into a downloadable checklist or a one-page “convince-your-adviser” brief.

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