The application rests on two pillars: a convincing business plan and an independent viability assessment (expert opinion). Plus an order in which it easily goes wrong: apply and get approval first, THEN register the trade and start. The reverse means refusal.
Start-Up Grant: Application and Opinion
The heart of the application is the expert opinion: an independent viability assessment from the chamber of commerce, a tax adviser, a bank or a consultant. And the iron rule: apply BEFORE starting.
✓ 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».
DOCUMENTS 4
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I got the viability assessment from the local chamber — cheap, and the decisive document for the agency. They also helped polish the plan: two meetings and the application was strong.
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Lea recommends:
Do not register the trade in a rush to start quickly: an activity start before the application kills the grant. Keep the order strict: plan → opinion → application → approval → only now trade registration.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who issues the expert opinion? ▾
Competent bodies: the chamber of commerce or crafts, a tax adviser, a bank, recognised start-up centres and consultants. Many chambers do it cheaply or free. The opinion confirms your plan is realistic.
Why can I not start before applying? ▾
Principle: the grant supports the TRANSITION out of unemployment, so the application and approval must precede starting. Registered a trade or worked before applying — entitlement gone. Papers first, then start.
What goes into the business plan? ▾
The idea and unique selling point, market and competitor analysis, a customer plan, and above all a financial plan with revenue/cost forecasts showing it secures your living. Realism beats optimism.