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Start-Up Success: How to Avoid Common Mistakes with Consulting

Why apply for a start-up grant? Quite simply – the start-up grant offers people with limited financial resources the opportunity to set up a business or establish a self-employed activity. As with all financial support options, many different requirements must be met when applying for the start-up grant. We explain what you should look out for here.

Avoid these 7 mistakes when applying for a start-up grant

Unemployed – what can I do now?” Anyone who is unemployed and receives unemployment benefit can apply for a start-up grant. Just one day of unemployment is enough to receive the start-up grant, provided you do not make any negligent mistakes. However, the subsidy is only granted to people who receive unemployment benefit 1. People who receive Hartz IV are generally not entitled to it.
To ensure that the application for the start-up grant runs smoothly and you are granted funding, you should avoid specific mistakes. Below you will find the 7 most common mistakes when applying for a start-up grant from the Federal Employment Agency – from the practical perspective of experienced business consultants.

01

The conditions for the start-up grant are not met

The start-up grant is awarded by the Federal Employment Agency. So if you are planning to become self-employed and would like to take advantage of the subsidy, you should find out exactly what the basic requirements are for applying for a start-up subsidy and make as few mistakes as possible.

The following conditions should be met:

You must be registered with the employment agency.

You should be entitled to ALG 1 and be registered as unemployed for at least one day.

It is therefore not possible to switch immediately from being employed to starting a business and apply for a start-up grant. Read more in our article: Applying for a start-up grant step by step or Start-up grant: This is what matters when applying.

Gründungszuschuss beantragen Schritt für Schritt
Frist auf 150 Tage Restanspruch wird nicht eingehalten
02

Deadline for 150 days remaining entitlement is not met

In order to apply for the start-up grant without errors, you must still be entitled to at least 150 days of unemployment benefit 1 and have been unemployed for at least one day (when you apply). The remaining entitlement is calculated on the day on which you register your full-time self-employment with the trade office (date of establishment). In most cases, proof of this is provided by the trade license.
By the way: If you do not have 150 days of remaining entitlement to unemployment benefit, you can apply for an activation and placement voucher. With the AVGS, you receive free support from us when planning your company. We only bill through the employment agency and there are no consulting costs for you. At our Cologne location, we offer comprehensive on-site AVGS coaching. By offering online coaching, we also work independently of location and can therefore support business projects nationwide.

03

Note the date of application - start-up grant

The following happens to many founders: After they become unemployed, they suddenly decide to apply for the start-up grant. “But what business idea?”, most people ask themselves.

After thinking about it for a while, they come up with a suitable business idea. As is often the case, the idea begins to grow and they want to become self-employed. At this point, some founders are full of energy, go to the local trade office and register their company immediately.

Still unemployed, but already self-employed, they visit the employment agency a few days later. They speak to their clerk and tell him that they are very motivated to escape unemployment and have already registered the company – they would now like to apply for the start-up grant. However, the clerk immediately shakes his head and says somewhat soberly: “Unfortunately, you can no longer apply for the start-up grant because your company has already been registered.” When the founders leave the building of the employment agency after this rejection, we usually get the first call from them. But don’t worry. Even if you have already founded your company as a main occupation before you even have the application for the start-up grant in your hands, we will be happy to help you solve the problem. All you have to do is contact us.

Tag der Antragsstellung beachten – Gründungszuschuss
Zeit für die Erstellung eines Businessplans ist zu knapp
04

There is not enough time to draw up a business plan

Anyone who wants to apply for the start-up grant must face the challenge of creating a business plan. This is the basis for deciding whether the business model is sound and whether it has a chance of being founded with the start-up grant. The most common reason for a rejection of an application for a start-up grant is an incorrect or incomplete business plan. The following articles will help you create your own business plan:

Write your own business plan – step by step

– 6 professional tips for the perfect business plan

– Business plan contents

The business plan should be packed with skills so that a certificate of viability can be easily obtained. It is also important that the business plan is detailed and each part is described in detail so that it does not fall on deaf ears at the employment agency. You are welcome to have us create your business plan.

Do you need a certificate of viability or an expert opinion? We are happy to help you with that too. – Free consultation hour

05

The business idea is not viable or has been poorly researched

An idea is not yet a company, just a start.” We as a management consultancy sometimes get to the point where we read through the business idea in a business plan and notice that the potential founder does not know exactly what to look for when formulating it. A business idea must be implemented – mentally – in a fictitious company in order to simulate whether the idea can be implemented as a business. At the same time, the competition should be researched and the overall market considered. This can be achieved by considering the following:
  • How does product control work?
  • Is it easy to use?
  • What sales channels are there?
  • What is the competitive situation?
  • What are the manufacturing costs of the product?
  • At what price do we sell it?

Of course, these questions are not exhaustive, but they are a first theoretical step towards a company. They also help the founders realise what they are dealing with when they move from an idea to a real product in the real world.

Die Geschäftsidee ist nicht tragbar bzw. wurde schlecht recherchiert
Unterlagen sind nicht vollständig
06

Documents are not complete

In order for the funding to be successful, founders should pay particular attention to the completeness of the start-up grant application. The employment agency only hands out the start-up grant form during a personal consultation on the start-up grant. This must then be filled out and sent back to the clerk. In addition, alternative documents must be submitted. These are:

  • Business plan
  • CV
  • Proof of registration of self-employment
  • Certificates
  • If applicable, the mandatory permit or approval for the respective professional sector
    Expert opinion

Applying for a start-up grant step by step with the help of experienced advisors

Firstly, we recommend that you discuss the start-up grant application with us, as a start-up consultancy, and only then talk to the person in charge about the topic. This is followed by the application, which you obtain from the employment agency, and finally the business registration. However, you should always pre-date this so that you still have enough time to draw up the business plan and complete the application. We will support you throughout the entire process.

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