Förderung: Fachkundige Stellungnahme der IHK für Gründungszuschuss einholen

If you are unemployed and want to start a business, you can apply for a start-up grant from the Employment Agency. To do this, you need an expert opinion on your business concept.

You should first clarify any questions relating to funding with the relevant employment agency. This is also where you apply for a start-up grant.

A prerequisite for the start-up grant from the employment agency is that an expert body has examined your business idea and considers it to be viable. You can choose the contact person for the opinion. This can be the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, for example.

During the viability check, your start-up concept is checked for plausibility and comprehensibility. The decisive factor is whether you can make a living from implementing the business idea after a start-up phase.

In addition to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, other bodies can also assess the viability of your project:

• Chambers of Crafts,
• professional chambers,
• trade associations,
• credit institutions,
• Others (tax consultants, auditors, start-up initiatives, etc.)

In the event of justified doubts, the employment agency may again request the submission of a statement from an expert body.

At least the following documents are required to obtain a statement:

• Brief description of the business start-up project
• curriculum vitae
• Capital requirement and financing plan
• Turnover and profitability forecast
• Evidence of previous business activities, for example a written report on your entrepreneurial activities and outlook for business development in the coming months, overview of income and expenditure, incoming orders or efforts to obtain orders

In general, we recommend the preparation of a comprehensive business plan (templates and samples are available from specialist agencies, for example) and the preparation of a liquidity plan, at least for the intended funding period.

• Your business concept is clearly presented
• Your business concept is viable, i.e. you can probably make a living from it

As a rule, a fee is charged. You can find out more details from your IHK.

The statement is a step towards receiving the start-up grant. Please contact your employment agency first and find out whether you are eligible for a start-up grant.

If you are applying for a start-up grant from the employment agency and would like to obtain an opinion from a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), please proceed as follows:

• Contact your IHK and arrange a meeting.
• Prepare the necessary documents (brief description of the business start-up project, CV, capital requirements and financing plan, sales and profitability forecast, also recommended: liquidity plan).
• It is often necessary to send the documents to the IHK before the interview.

After the interview, you will receive an assessment from the IHK, which you then send to the employment agency. Ask the IHK about any different procedures.

Please enquire about the processing time at the competent office.

You can find out more about the start-up grant and make an appointment here: Employment Agency website

You can find the Chamber of Industry and Commerce responsible for you here: IHK competence finder

No formal legal remedies possible

• Issue of expert opinion
• Unemployed people interested in setting up a business need to apply for a start-up grant from the relevant employment agency
• Expert body: Chamber of Industry and Commerce or other institutions (chambers of crafts, start-up initiatives, banks, etc.)

You can find the Chamber of Industry and Commerce responsible for you here: IHK competence finder

• Forms: Application for a statement on the start-up grant from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, form "Request for a statement from an expert body on the viability of the business start-up"
• Personal appearance required: as specified by the expert body
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form requirement: no