INQA Coaching Kiel: 80% funding for SMEs

INQA Coaching supports companies in Kiel with 80% of consulting costs – up to €11,520 for twelve coaching days, own contribution €2,880. The funding rate applies nationwide. In Schleswig-Holstein, this is particularly important because the BAFA consulting grant here only reaches 50% i.e. a maximum of €1,750.

Why companies in Kiel receive less under BAFA

The BAFA consulting grant is regionally tiered: 80% applies only in structurally weak regions – the new federal states without Berlin and the Leipzig region, as well as the Lüneburg and Trier regions. Schleswig-Holstein, and thus Kiel, counts among the other regions.

INQA coaching in Kiel: 80 %, up to 11,520 €
BAFA consulting grant in Kiel: 50 % on a €3,500 assessment basis, up to 1,750 €

For a project that goes beyond one-off individual consulting, INQA-Coaching in Kiel is therefore the far more robust instrument – around six times the funding volume. BAFA funding remains useful for clearly defined individual questions and, in any case, is only available until 31/12/2026.

Kiel’s economy and suitable coaching topics

Kiel is the capital of Schleswig-Holstein with around 250,000 residents, shaped by the maritime economy, shipbuilding and suppliers, marine technology, port and ferry traffic, the healthcare sectoras well as Christian Albrechts University. The digitalization needs in SMEs are rarely technical, but organizational in nature:

Interfaces between clients, suppliers, and the workshop where information is lost
Verification and documentation requirements that tie up skilled workers' time
Recurring customer inquiries without any need for technical clarification
Knowledge that depends on individual experienced employees

Requirements

Fewer than 250 employees
Annual turnover of no more than €50 million or annual balance sheet total of no more than €43 million
At least one full-time position subject to social security contributions
for at least two years on the market
Registered office and place of work in Germany – including freelancers and non-profit organizations

Example: Kiel-based supplier with 40 employees

A typical case: A supplier in Kiel coordinates orders between sales, production, and customers by email and phone. Status inquiries tie up hours in the internal sales team every day. In the coaching, the first step is to determine what share of the inquiries are purely status updates – in practice, usually the vast majority. An automated information channel is then set up and tested with the team, so that the internal sales team only handles the real exceptions.

INQA advisory center for Kiel

According to the INQA map (as of September 2026), the following advisory centers in Schleswig-Holstein, among others, offer the free initial consultation:

KielRegion (Haßstraße 3-5, 24103 Kiel)
Educational Institute of the Business Community for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (Paradeplatz 9, 24768 Rendsburg)

After the free initial consultation, the advisory center issues the INQA coaching voucher, but may not recommend any specific coach – you choose one yourself via the map of INQA coaches.

What changed with the guideline from June 2026

Coaching vouchers are issued until 30 June 2028; the coaching must be completed by 31 December 2028.
A change in legal form, owner, or a business takeover no longer has any negative effect if the business itself has existed for at least two years.
The following also applies: reimbursement principle: The coaching is paid in full upfront and then 80 % is reimbursed.

For comparison: the BAFA consulting grant in Kiel pays 50 %, up to a maximum of €1,750, and only for applications submitted by 31/12/2026.

Frequently Asked Questions about INQA-Coaching in Kiel

Does INQA-Coaching apply in Schleswig-Holstein in the same way?

Yes. INQA-Coaching is a federal program of the BMAS with a nationwide uniform funding rate of 80%. Unlike the BAFA consulting grant, there is no regional tiering.

Why does BAFA only pay 50% in Kiel?

The increased rate of 80% is tied to classification as a structurally weak region – these are the new federal states (excluding Berlin and the Leipzig region) as well as the Lüneburg and Trier regions. Schleswig-Holstein belongs to the other regions; there the rate is 50% based on an assessment basis of €3,500.

Can I combine both programs?

Yes, for different, clearly defined topics and with separate applications. Double funding for the same service is excluded.

How does collaboration work remotely?

The trip from Schwerin to Kiel is bundled for on-site days; in between, work is done digitally. Since the up to twelve coaching days are distributed over several months anyway, this is easy to plan.

Next step

Which program is suitable for your Kiel-based company is clarified by the Funding check. Details at INQA-Coaching and BAFA consulting funding.

As of September 2026. Funding rates according to INQA Coaching (BMAS) and BAFA consulting grant. Funding conditions may change – we check the current status before each application.