BAFA consultancy funding

What is the BAFA consulting grant?

The BAFA consulting grant – officially “Funding for management consultancy for SMEs” – is a federal program financed by funds from the federal government and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus). The Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) pays the advised company a non-repayable grant for the consultant’s fee. Funding is available for consulting on economic, financial, personnel and organisational management issues.

The grant is a de minimis aid: together with other de minimis aid, no more than €300,000 may be received within three years. There is no legal entitlement – BAFA decides within the limits of the available budget.

Who is eligible to apply – and who is not?

The applicant is always the company receiving the consulting, not the consultant. Eligible applicants are companies that

• are legally independent in the commercial sector or as a liberal profession and are active in the market,
• have their registered office and business operations in Germany,
• as SMEs apply: fewer than 250 employees and annual turnover of no more than €50 million or a balance sheet total of €43 million – including partner and affiliated companies.

Not eligible to apply are, regardless of the need for consulting:

• management consultancies, auditors, tax advisors, lawyers, notaries, insolvency administrators, and similar advisory or training professionals,
• companies in insolvency proceedings or with an obligation to provide a statement of assets,
• Companies in which religious communities, legal entities under public law, or their own operations hold a stake,
• non-profit companies, associations, and foundations,
• Companies from sectors excluded by the de minimis regulation, such as primary agricultural production, fisheries, and aquaculture.

For Physicians, dentists, psychotherapists, and alternative practitionersOnly consulting services for the introduction or adaptation of a quality assurance system are funded. Young companies, which are still in their first year after founding at the time of application, must also attend a free information meeting with a regional contact person – usually the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or the Chamber of Crafts. Submit the confirmation together with the proof of use.

What is funded – and what is not?

The following are funded: individual conceptual consulting services: an analysis of the initial situation, the identification of weaknesses, and concrete, actionable recommendations. The consulting may last no more than five days; the days do not have to be consecutive, report preparation and travel time do not count. At the end there is a written consulting report, which you and the consultant sign.

Typical topics include securing skilled workers, reducing costs, adapting the business model, succession planning – and Digitization of processes. Consulting on the question of where AI can be usefully deployed in a company is such a management question. The implementation itself, i.e. software, licenses or programming, is not consulting and is therefore not subsidized.

Not eligible for funding consulting services,

• that are additionally subsidized from other public funds (prohibition of cumulation),
• that aim to sell the consultant’s own goods or services,
• that primarily concern legal, insurance or tax matters, annual financial statements or bookkeeping,
• that are primarily expert reports or primarily concern funding,
• that take place as seminars, workshops or group events.

Process and deadlines in detail

1. Select a consultant. He must be registered with BAFA. The choice is free.
2. Submit an online application – via the BAFA application platform, addressed to one of the six coordinating offices (e.g. DIHK Service GmbH, Central Confederation of German Crafts). No further documents are required for this.
3. Wait for the information letter. The coordinating office checks the formal requirements and informs you that you may begin. Neither the consulting nor the signing of a consulting contract may begin beforehand – the conclusion of the contract is also already considered the start.
4. Conduct the consulting – a maximum of five consulting days, after which you will receive the consulting report.
5. Pay the invoice in full by bank transfer, including VAT. Cash payment or offsetting excludes the grant.
6. Submit proof of use – no later than six months after receipt of the information letter: signed form, SME and de minimis declaration, declaration on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, consulting report, invoice, bank statement showing payment and, for start-ups in the first year, confirmation of the information meeting.
7. Disbursement. The coordinating office and BAFA review the documents; the grant is paid to your company.

Only a bank statementor a bank confirmation – not a turnover display from online banking and not a transfer receipt.

How often can the funding be used?

During the term of the guideline, a maximum of five self-contained consulting engagements per company are eligible for funding, a maximum of two per year – the decisive factor is the application date. If the costs of a consultation are below €3,500, the unused remainder is forfeited; it cannot be transferred to another consultation.

How long will the BAFA funding still be available?

According to section 8, the guideline applies “at the latest to applications submitted by 31 December 2026”. The decisive factor is therefore the application date, not the end of the consultation: anyone who applies by 31/12/2026 can also carry out the consultation in early 2027 – the proof of use must then be submitted within six months of the information letter.

As of September 2026, a successor program not announced. Anyone planning a consultation should therefore not leave the application until the last days of December. For projects from 2027 onward, the INQA-Coaching: coaching vouchers will be issued there until 30 June 2028, nationwide with an 80% grant.

Common mistakes that cost the grant

• Consulting contract signed before the information letter– then the funding is excluded, even if the consulting itself starts later.
• Consultant not registered with BAFA– the registration must be in place at the time of the consulting.
• Incorrect funding rate assumed:Berlin and the Leipzig region are at 50%, although they are often counted among the new federal states. Conversely, the Lüneburg and Trier regions are at 80%.
• Deadline missed:The six months for the proof of use begin with the information letter, not with the end of the consulting.
• Fee paid in cash, offset, or only partially transferred.
• Workshop instead of individual consulting – group formats are not eligible for funding.

BAFA funding or INQA coaching?

BAFA funding is suitable for a short, clearly defined consulting with report and recommendations for action – up to €3,500 in costs. The INQA-Coaching on the other hand accompanies a change process over up to twelve days together with employees, with a subsidy of up to €11,520, and applies nationwide at 80%. Both programs prohibit funding the same consulting twice. Which one applies in your case is shown by the Funding check.

As of September 2026. Source: Funding guideline “Promotion of management consulting for SMEs” (BAnz AT 23.12.2024 B1) and the BAFA information sheets. Only the version currently in force is authoritative.