Entrepreneurial Success Stories that Define Unternehmenswerk
Entrepreneurs talk about their path to self-employment, their worries, challenges and the support they received from us.
Everyday support for your favourite person
Giovanni Montefusco wants to help senior citizens lead a self-determined and happy life with his everyday assistance.
Who are you? What business do you run and where do you currently stand with your company?
I have set up an everyday companionship service for senior citizens in Cologne and am still in the starting blocks, so to speak. So there's still a lot to do. We are currently setting up the communication and working structures and preparing for the official launch in January.
What was your situation like before consulting with Unternehmenswerk?
My business management knowledge was at a very low level, which is why I sought counselling at least for business plan preparation and financial management in the company. The training character of the coaching was important to me.
How did the start-up go? What were your challenges?
So far, only administrative and bureaucratic steps have been taken. We recently received our licence. But I still have a lot to do. I think finding suitable employees will be a challenge.
How did you become aware of Unternehmenswerk?
I know a friend of Pavel's - he warmly recommended the company to me and that's how we got in touch.
How was Pavel able to help you? What did you take away from the coaching?
Thanks to the coaching, I have a solid basic knowledge of financial management. The business model is not very complex in this respect, but the important thing is that I have learnt tools that make financial planning possible. I received really good support and advice from Pavel.
Would you recommend Unternehmenswerk to others?
I would recommend Unternehmenswerk to others, as I am extremely satisfied with the methods used in the course, the teamwork and the results!
New foundation
Giovanni
Company:
Everyday support for your favourite person
Industry:
Care
Location
Cologne
“Thanks to the coaching, I have a solid basic knowledge of financial management.“
New foundation
Christina
Company:
My shamrock
Industry:
Food
Location:
Fritzlar
“Thanks to his empathic skills, Pavel was even able to convince me that taxes, for example, can be interesting.“
Organic and natural food shop Mein Kleeblatt
More a twist of fate than long planned - Christina Viehmann offers her customers an exclusive range and a warm atmosphere in her organic and natural food shop.
Who are you? What business do you run and where do you currently stand with your company?
My name is Christina and I have been running the organic and natural food shop Mein Kleeblatt in Fritzlar since May.
What was your situation like before consulting with Unternehmenswerk?
My business management knowledge was at a very low level, which is why I sought counselling at least for business plan preparation and financial management in the company. The training character of the coaching was important to me.
How did the foundation go?
In fact, my desire to start a business was more a twist of fate than a long-prepared wish: after I lost my job in the catering industry at the end of last year due to the coronavirus, I found out from a friend that the health food shop in Fritzlar was looking for a new owner. As I had worked there for a short time as a temp myself, I knew the shop's conditions and customers very well. It was a gift from the universe, so to speak, and so I quickly decided to become self-employed and started the preparations. However, I quickly reached my limits here.
What were your challenges?
Not everything went so smoothly in the time leading up to the opening: even until shortly before it was still unclear whether the landlords would agree to let me the shop, there was a long back and forth and misunderstandings with the bank when it came to financing, and it was questionable whether I would even receive a subsidy from the employment agency.
How was Unternehmenswerk able to help you? What did you take away from the coaching?
We drew up the business plan together and I received valuable support on topics such as taxes, applying for the start-up grant and during the difficult phase of financing. In the end, everything fell into place: I received the start-up grant, the bank financing was approved and so I was able to reopen the business under a new name and concept. Thanks to the help of Mr Deuble and his team, I felt ready and confident to take the step into self-employment.
Would you recommend Unternehmenswerk to others?
All in all, absolutely recommendable. I am more than satisfied with the expertise, friendliness, flexibility, professionalism and patience that I received from Mr Deuble in particular. Thanks to his empathic skills, he was even able to convince me that taxes, for example, can be interesting. I have to write the 6th star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Successful management consultancy for Mehmet Arslan
Challenges before counselling
Mr Arslan faced several challenges prior to the consultation. As an accountant, Mr Arslan has in-depth knowledge of finance, accounting and tax law. However, there were other aspects, such as market analyses, business development, legal requirements and corporate governance, where he needed support. One of the biggest hurdles was securing the necessary financing from KfW Bank. To do this, he had to draw up a convincing business plan that included both his business idea and financial planning. In addition, Mr Arslan had to fulfil the criteria for the start-up grant, which meant that he had to deal intensively with the requirements. Despite his preparations, it was unclear to him how he could effectively summarise and present all this information in order to receive the desired funding.
Consultancy by Unternehmenswerk
The advice provided by Unternehmenswerk was crucial for Mr Arslan. Pavel initially helped him with the structured creation of his business plan by guiding him through all the necessary steps. This included the elaboration of the business idea, a detailed market analysis and the financial planning necessary to convince the KfW bank of his idea. Pavel also explained the requirements and the application process for the start-up grant so that he was fully prepared.
Results of the consultation
Thanks to the intensive consultation, Mr Arslan was able to draw up a professional business plan that met all the necessary criteria. He received the start-up grant, which already provided him with financial support. The clear structure and professional presentation of his ideas convinced the employment agency. Financing via the KfW bank was successfully initiated and is currently still being processed, although Mr Arslan is optimistic that he will soon be able to secure the necessary funds.
Conclusion and recommendation
Mr Arslan has nothing but positive things to say about the advice he received. Pavel's personal support and individual approach prepared him perfectly for his future self-employment and the takeover. Pavel's flexibility and commitment far exceeded his expectations. He particularly liked the fact that he always responded to his personal needs and that the support went far beyond coaching.
New foundation
Mehmet Arslan
Company:
Accounting service
Location:
Ludwigsburg
Takeover:
June 2024
Mr Arslan wanted to take over the family accounting service. The company performs various activities such as account assignment, recording and analysing business transactions as well as additional work in the area of business consulting and office services. Mr Arslan wanted to receive a start-up grant as well as financing from KfW Bank to cover office equipment and materials, operating and personnel costs and comprehensive marketing measures for customer acquisition.
New foundation
Peter Baldowski
Company:
IT consulting
Location:
Bremen
Foundation period:
June 2024
After training as an IT business administrator in 2004, he worked in various companies and positions, including as an IT specialist, consultant and manager in technology consulting and programme and project management. The step into self-employment in this sector was therefore a logical consequence and also a long-cherished wish.
Successful management consultancy for Peter Baldowski
Challenges before counselling
Mr Baldowski faced several challenges on his way to self-employment. In addition to convincing the labour office to grant him the start-up subsidy, he also had to deal with the complex application process. The formalities and requirements of the applications were unclear to him. Although he had a solid professional career as an IT specialist, he lacked the experience in drawing up a professional business plan to convince the relevant authorities.
Consultancy by Unternehmenswerk
Mr Baldowski came across Unternehmenswerk through his own research and contacted them via the website. He received an immediate response and was able to speak directly to Pavel on the phone. During this conversation, Mr Baldowski was able to explain his goals and plans in detail, while Pavel clearly explained the next steps to him. The direct contact and quick response were decisive factors that gave Mr Baldowski immediate confidence in Unternehmenswerk. He was able to discuss many questions during the meetings and knew exactly how the process would continue.
Results of the consultation
The advice provided by Unternehmenswerk included comprehensive support in various fundamental areas of the company. In addition to drawing up a professional business plan, Mr Baldowski gained valuable insights into company management, marketing strategies and other relevant areas. This advice not only helped him to structure his business idea, but also to develop the right strategies for marketing his services and to realistically plan the financial aspects; the support in preparing the financial section and the advice on fundamental areas of the company made a decisive contribution to the quality of his business plan. This thorough preparation ultimately led to the successful approval of the start-up grant, which provided him with a solid financial basis for his self-employment.
Conclusion and recommendation
The collaboration was uncomplicated and fast throughout. The direct contact and rapid feedback were particularly valuable, as they helped Mr Baldowski to quickly familiarise himself with the process. Pavel quickly took him by the hand, clarified all open questions and guided him safely through the various aspects of the start-up. The professional support and comprehensive advice were crucial to his success. Thanks to this support, Mr Baldowski was ultimately able to successfully start his own business as an IT consultant. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Successful management consultancy for Christian Szymanski
Challenges before counselling
The three founders of Second Stage GmbH were faced with the challenge of starting a business from unemployment and receiving a start-up grant. They had to draw up convincing business plans and formulate their business idea in such a way that it met the criteria of the funding programmes. They also had limited experience in setting up a business and were looking for professional support to overcome the bureaucratic hurdles.
Consultancy by Unternehmenswerk
One of the founders became aware of Unternehmenswerk through his own online research and, after an initial clarifying discussion with Pavel, decided directly in favour of the collaboration. The founders had already drawn up an initial business plan.
Results of the consultation:
- Creating a compelling business plan: With the support of the company, the founders were able to refine and optimize their existing plan. Pavel helped them to formulate their business idea precisely and ensured that all aspects of starting a business were covered.
- Strengthening entrepreneurial skills: The advice from the company helped the founders to expand their knowledge and skills in the field of business management and start-up formalities.
Conclusion and recommendation
Thanks to the professional advice from Unternehmenswerk and the effective support from Pavel, all three founders successfully received the start-up grant. The business idea of Second Stage GmbH was evaluated positively and the founders were able to successfully launch their agency for digital marketing solutions in the gaming industry. The founders therefore recommend other start-ups in a similar situation to seek professional support in order to maximise their chances of receiving funding and successfully launching their business. They particularly appreciated the fact that quick and precise answers were provided, which led to rapid processing and application submission.
New foundation
Christian Szymanski
Company:
Marketing agency Second Stage GmbH
Founder:
Christian Szymanski, Egemen Arslan und Matthias Mirlach
Location:
Berlin
Foundation period:
April 2024
Second Stage GmbH’s business idea is aimed at helping companies in the gaming industry to realise their full potential in customer acquisition. The agency offers its customers innovative digital marketing solutions. All three founders wanted to start a business from unemployment and receive the start-up subsidy.
New foundation
Saskia Roß
Company:
Cleaning service
Location:
Erkelenz
Foundation period:
August 2024
Mrs Roß’s activities are varied and range from domestic and maintenance cleaning to office and window cleaning and caretaking services. She wanted to successfully apply for the start-up grant and build up her entrepreneurial expertise.
Successful management consultancy for Saskia Roß
Challenges before counselling
Before the consultation, Mrs Roß was faced with considerable challenges. The entrepreneurial aspects such as financial planning, accounting and taxes were completely new territory for her, as she had no previous experience in these areas. She also had great difficulty in approaching customers and selling her services. She was also worried about drawing up a detailed business plan, as she was unsure whether she would be able to fulfil the requirements of the employment agency.
Consultancy by Unternehmenswerk
Mrs Roß was referred to Pavel via a cooperation partner of the Unternehmenswerk. During the first conversation, Pavel listened attentively and took the time to understand all her questions and problems. The possibility of arranging face-to-face meetings made it easier for Mrs Roß to talk directly and openly.
Counselling content
From start to finish, the coaching was tailored to Mrs Roß's individual needs. Pavel provided her with numerous guidelines and practical tips to help her understand the basics of financial planning and organise her bookkeeping. She also received valuable information on how to approach customers and on sales strategies. A comprehensive business plan was also drawn up together and all the necessary documents for the application were compiled.
Results of the consultation
Thanks to the extensive support and tailored advice, Mrs Roß is now well prepared to start her business. She has developed a solid concept for her cleaning service and feels more confident in dealing with the challenges that lie ahead. The uncertainties she had at the beginning have diminished considerably and she is confident that she will be able to offer her services successfully. She has also received the start-up grant.
Conclusion and recommendation
Overall, Mrs Roß can only recommend the advice from Unternehmenswerk and the support from Pavel. The personalised and practical help was of great value to her and gave her the tools she needed to approach her start-up with confidence. She feels well prepared to take the next steps in her entrepreneurial journey. She considers it positive that she was always able to contact Pavel even after the coaching.
Successful management consultancy for Katja Jung
Challenges before counselling
Mrs Jung had difficulties preparing her business plan as it had to be very detailed. She was unsure whether she could fulfil the requirements of the employment agency and feared that the process would take a long time. In addition, she had already contacted the Chamber of Industry and Commerce but received no help there, which further increased her uncertainty.
Consultancy by Unternehmenswerk
Mrs Jung came across the company's work and the contact with Pavel through her online research. She immediately found the dialogue pleasant and uncomplicated. The online coaching option was particularly advantageous for her, as it meant she didn't have to make any additional journeys.
Counselling content
The consultation covered several important aspects to support Mrs Jung in setting up her business. Firstly, they focussed on drawing up the business plan, taking into account all the necessary elements to meet the requirements of the office. In addition, she was given valuable insights into tax law issues and was recommended various tools, such as accounting software. Another important part of the counselling was support in preparing the application documents required for the approval of her project.
Results of the consultation
Thanks to Pavel's support, Mrs Jung was able to successfully complete her application documents. She not only built up her knowledge in the area of business plan preparation, but also felt more confident in tax law matters. The entire consultation was quick and uncomplicated, which suited her very well.
Conclusion and recommendation
Mrs Jung is extremely satisfied with the advice provided by Unternehmenswerk and would award a clear 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. She emphasises that everything went smoothly straight away and to her complete satisfaction.
New foundation
Katja Jung
Company:
Online-Coaching
Location:
Bielefeld
Foundation period:
April 2024
Ms Jung offers training in live sessions in various areas, including online marketing, mindset development, holistic health, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, trading and passive income streams. She has been running the business as a small business since October 2022. Eventually, she wanted to apply for the start-up grant and work full-time as a coach.
New foundation
Daniel Grahnert
Company:
Performing arts
Location:
Leipzig
Foundation period:
February 2024
Mr Grahnert has devoted himself to his great passion and set up his own business as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. He offers dance lessons, workshops, projects and further training aimed at teaching basic dance skills and promoting creative development and a sense of community. In the field of performance, he focuses on all kinds of performances, the development of choreographies, video performances and the assessment of dance competitions as a jury or adjudicator.
Successful management consultancy for Daniel Grahnert
Challenges before counselling
Mr Grahnert was faced with the challenge of starting his own business from unemployment and receiving a start-up grant. He was told that a convincing business plan was required for this. The pressure to produce a convincing business plan that met the requirements for the start-up grant was a source of concern for him. As Mr Grahnert did not have the necessary knowledge to create a professional business plan and design the content to meet the requirements of the funding programmes, he needed professional support.
Consultancy by Unternehmenswerk
Mr Grahnert became aware of Unternehmenswerk through online research. After receiving a quick and specific response to his enquiry, he decided to work with Unternehmenswerk, although he had also considered other options. The rapid response time and direct support were decisive factors in his decision.
Successful support for corporate organisations
With the support of Unternehmenswerk, Mr Grahnert was able to transform his vision into a professional business plan. Unternehmenswerk helped him to clearly structure his creative ideas and transform them into a convincing business model.
Mr Grahnert received comprehensive support from the initial idea sketch to the final draft of the business plan. Unternehmenswerk accompanied him through every phase of the application, ensured that all the necessary documents were complete and correct, and supported him in formulating convincing content.
This comprehensive support and professional guidance ultimately led to the successful approval of the start-up grant, providing Mr Grahnert with a solid financial basis for implementing his business idea.
Conclusion and recommendation
Mr Grahnert can recommend Unternehmenswerk without reservation. The collaboration was uncomplicated and quick for him, with direct contact and rapid feedback. The Unternehmenswerk team immediately took him by the hand and guided him unerringly through the entire process. Thanks to this support, Mr Grahnert was able to realise his dream and successfully start his own business.
Successful management consultancy for Sebastian Brück from Own Water
Challenges before counselling
Mr Brück was faced with a challenging situation as he urgently needed funding to realise his dream project. The investment in tools, materials and equipment, a vehicle, the trademark registration and licence fees for the CE mark were crucial to realising his vision. Added to this were the operating costs and staff recruitment, which also required financial resources. But the biggest challenge was convincing the bank of the viability of his business idea and putting together a solid business plan that fuelled hopes for a successful future.
Consultancy by Unternehmenswerk
The advice from Unternehmenswerk was a real turning point for Mr Brück. Together they not only drew up a detailed business plan, but also went through the essential elements of his business concept. The counselling included the following aspects:
- Business plan creation: Help with creating a professional business plan
- Business management training: Intensive training in business management basics
- Marketing strategy development: Support in designing effective marketing strategies to attract customers
- Market analysis: Conducting a comprehensive market analysis
- Competitive strategy: Developing an effective competitive strategy
- Financial plan: Drawing up a transparent financial plan
Thanks to the comprehensive advice, Mr Brück not only drew up a clear and professional business plan, but also quickly obtained financing in the form of a KfW start-up loan. This ultimately enabled him to make all the necessary investments. The support from Unternehmenswerk paved the way for him to successfully launch his company and bring his services to the market.
Conclusion and recommendation
Mr Brück recommends Unternehmenswerk because of the comprehensive and competent advice in all areas of setting up a company. The support provided by Pavel and his team was always professional and focussed. The willingness to be available to answer questions at any time deserves special mention.
New foundation
Sebastian Brück
Company:
Distribution of water hygiene filters and systems
Location:
Bielefeld
Phase:
Build-up phase
Mr Brück offers a comprehensive range of water treatment services, including classic methods such as osmosis technology, ultrafiltration and the production of deionised water. His aim is to improve water quality and thus protect the health of consumers. As a newly founded company, Mr Brück was in the start-up phase and wanted to efficiently prepare his company for market entry.