Are you unemployed and going to start your own business? Or are you applying for a visa for self-employment? Then you must prove that your business plan is viable.
A. Applying for a grant
Depending on whether you receive unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) or citizen’s allowance (Bürgergeld), you submit an application either to the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter.
- Do you receive Arbeitslosengeld? Then you can apply for the Gründungszuschuss startup grant from your local employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit).
- Do you receive Bürgergeld? Then you can apply for the Einstiegsgeld initial financial support with your local Jobcenter.
Learn more about these funding programs on our Financing and public support page in the Personal grants section.
1. Business plan and statement for the Gründungszuschuss
For the Gründungszuschuss to be approved, an expert body must review your business plan and confirm its viability with a written statement. The Employment Agency counts chambers of industry and commerce, chambers of skilled crafts, professional chambers, trade associations or credit institutions in particular among the competent bodies. Tax consultants can also be recognized by the Employment Agency.
Before contacting an expert body, please clarify
- with the Employment Agency whether you meet the requirements for the Gründungszuschuss,
- with the Institut for Liberal Professions if your planned activity is classified as a trade-like business or a liberal profession.
Then contact the expert body of your choice to plan processing times and costs. Tip: Use the business plan template provided by the relevant expert body.
A selection of contact points in Munich for a viability check and statement:
- Specialist associations, you can search for them e.g. at www.verbaende.com.
- Non profit organization AktivSenioren Bayern e.V. does not not have a focus on any specific industry. Contact them by phone at +49 89 22 22 37, email info@aktivsenioren.de or in person at their monthly events and learn about their conditions.
- Non profit organization GründerRegio M e.V. has a focus on liberal professions, women entrepreneurs, solo entrepreneurs and startups planning to offer knowledge-intensive services. Contact them by phone at +49 89 30 76 25 05, email info@gr-m.de and download their flyer Gründungszuschuss (PDF, 1,9 MB) for further information.
- IFB Institut for Liberal Professions focuses on those who start their business in the liberal professions. Contact IFB by phone at +49 911 23 565 28, read their information on Gründungszuschuss and download their checkliste (PDF, 246 KB) and business plan template.
- Tax consultants, you can use e.g. the directory of the Federal Chamber of Tax Consultants and the Chamber of Tax Consultants or the nationwide search service.
Chambers
- You can find an overview of the professional chambers on the BayernPortal.
- HWK Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern is the Chamber of Skilled Crafts. They are a contact point for future members and therefor NOT suitable for startups in the liberal professions or in a IHK-affiliated like business. You can obtain initial information from HWK Gründeragentur, tel. +49 89 5119-481, email gruenderagentur@hwk-muenchen.de For individual advice, please contact the Business Consulting team Team Betriebswirtschaftliche Beratung, tel. +49 89 5119-231. You can also download their business plan template.
- IHK für München und Oberbayern is the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. They are a contact point for future members and therefor NOT suitable for startups in the liberal professions or in skilled craft. Contact IHK at tel. +49 89 5116-0, email info@muenchen.ihk.de and obtain further information online guide IHK provides a free English language business plan template on their platform Unternehmerwerkstatt Deutschland.
2. Business plan and statement for the Einstiegsgeld
Make sure to ask your Jobcenter for the AVGS voucher (“Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein”) . It allows you to receive free coaching to prepare a business plan whose viability must be confirmed by an expert body. In Munich you can redeem the voucher e.g. with the nonprofit organization Aktivsenioren Bayern e.V.
B. Applying for a visa for self-employment
You can apply for a visa for self-employment at the Service Office for Immigration and Citizenship (previously: Munich Foreigners Office or Ausländerbehörde). Invest sufficient time and energy in preparing your business plan. If you need individual support and guidance in drawing up the business plan, you can contact the services mentioned on our business plan page in the section “Who can help you with the business plan?” as well as lawyers specializing in immigration law and tax advisors. They can also conduct a viability check before you send in your documents to the Service Office for Immigration and Citizenship.