Elementor #943
Agentur fur Arbeit Start-up Grant Application
Confirm Eligibility
When taking up self-employment, founders must be entitled to at least 150 more days of unemployment benefit, the duration of which is not only based upon Section 147 Subsection 3 SGB III. Furthermore, they must prove the necessary knowledge and abilities to work self-employed. If the aptitude cannot be established clearly, the applicant might have to participate in a measure for the determination of aptitude or for the preparation for founding a new business.
Check : https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/business-start-up
My case and issues
- Already recieving ALG1 and only had 6.5 weeks allowance remaining. The 150 unemployment benefit days requirement is VERY strict.
- I had just moved from Dortmund to Berlin and my address was not changed yet. My Agentur fur Arbeit office was still Dortmund and I had no address change appointments available in Berlin.
- This meant I had to come up with the business plan, sales forecast, status change to selfemployed and get the expert opinion within the 2 weeks timeframe.
Empowering Meeting with My Job Center Consultant in Dortmund
Returning to Dortmund to meet my existing Job Center counselor was a great opportunity to take a leap towards my dream of starting a business. With excitement, I sought her help to sign me up for the startup grant. She revealed that my file needed to be transferred to the Berlin Job Center before proceeding with the application.
Initially, I was nervous about getting the needed support from the new counselor. Nevertheless, with my fantastic Dortmund Job Center counselor’s support, I left the meeting feeling empowered. She wrote down helpful feedback and emphasized the urgency of my application due to the strict timeline. Moreover, she expertly guided me on all the required documents, ensuring that I was better equipped for future interactions.
Walking out of the meeting, I felt inspired to attempt applying for the Startup grant despite the uncertainty and difficulties.
File Transfer and online chat with my Berlin Job Center Counselor
I was lucky that my file reached Berlin Marzahn Hellersdorf Job Center within 5 working days. That technically left me with only 5-7 working days to have my application submitted. I was lucky that the counselor assigned in Berlin, despite being a complete stranger, immediately opened the application of Start-up Grant for me.
The toughest requirements with this application were now :
- Business Plan prepared and signed an expert opinion provider
- Financial Model for next 3 years also signed by the expert opinion provider
- The online application
- The status update from unemployed to selfemployed
- This was still my week 3 in Berlin and I had absolutely no idea where to go and who to ask for help
Update status to Self-Employed
Luckily I was able to visit ‘Point of Single Contact Berlin’ and register myself as a ‘Sole Trader’ starting from the date my 150 Days would begin. The process was very simple and the staff spoke English.
The required documents were my residence card and passport and an EC Card. It was useful to mention the purpose of the change was to get a startup grant. The required list of documents is also present at the website linked below.
Expert Opinion on Financial Model and Business Plan within 24 hours
In a complete state of Panic, I realised and concluded there is no way I can get the expert opinion within 24 hours and tried all the possible options available to me.
I finally reached out to Mr. Klaus Schaumberger from Existengrunder Helfer. I made the payment right away and submitted my documents to him. This was definitely the cheapest option I found and had the best reviews amongst all.
Luckily, he replied to my mail around 7pm with some improvements. Thats when I realised, I was completely wrong with what I assumed was asked of me. I took the night to re-do everything and submit again. The next morning he called me and suggested some improvements. I made the improvements and he gave me back the expert opinion within the time committed.
Main learning : I had written that the start-up grant would add to the capital for my business. He clarified, the start-up grant is for my own livelihood and not for the business startup. I believe that made A LOT of difference as I later found numerous agencies helping with the ‘Start up Grant’ applications and I submitted it entirely on my own. Thanks to Mr. Klaus.
My application was well received and my start-up grant was approved for the next 150 Days!
