The start-up grant funds not the business but YOU at the start: six months of your usual ALG rate plus 300 € to ramp up calmly. Two catches: it is discretionary (not a right), and the ALG I remainder must be 150+ days. So act early and well-justified.
Start-Up Grant: Who Gets It
The grant is for moving from unemployment benefit into self-employment. The key thing left unsaid: it is discretionary, not a right. But meeting the requirements sharply raises your chances.
✓ Verified: 18/07/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Agentur für Arbeit (Bundesagentur für Arbeit)
Public bodyUnemployment benefit I, start-up grants and job placement all run through the Agentur für Arbeit where you live. Find your branch under «Dienststelle vor Ort».
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I applied with 8 months of ALG I still open, not in the last month — the remainder was large and the agency approved without questions. Those who wait until benefits end often fail the 150-day condition.
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Lea recommends:
Discretionary does not mean luck: go to the agency for advice BEFORE applying and ask what exactly convinces them. Discretionary refusals are usually challengeable by objection with a stronger plan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A right or pot luck? ▾
Formally discretionary — the agency decides at its discretion, no guarantee. With requirements met (150+ days remaining, a realistic plan, an expert opinion) chances are high. Refusals can be challenged by objection.
Are the 150 days of remaining benefit mandatory? ▾
Yes, the core condition: on the start day at least 150 days of ALG I entitlement must remain. So do not wait until benefits run out — apply while the remainder is large.
I am on Buergergeld (ALG II), not ALG I — for me too? ▾
No, the start-up grant is only for ALG I. Buergergeld recipients have a different tool, the Jobcenter start-up allowance, with other rules. Clarify your case by your benefit.