Which consulting and coaching services does BAFA fund? Topics, limits and alternatives

The BAFA funding for management consulting covers all economic, financial, personnel and organizational issues of business management. Typical funded topics include digitalization of processes, the sensible use of AI, securing skilled workers, cost reduction, adapting the business model and business succession. The implementation itself, predominantly legal, tax and funding-related matters, as well as seminars and workshops, are not eligible for funding.

What defines a funded consulting service

Funding is provided for individual conceptual consulting: an analysis of the initial situation, identification of weaknesses, and concrete, actionable recommendations. The consulting lasts no more than five consulting days and ends with a written consulting report, which is signed by the company and the consultant.

Typical eligible topics

Digitalization and AI

Where do processes lose time? Which processes can be digitized or automated? Where can AI help – in customer service, administration, sales? Such consulting is a matter of management. How it works in practice is shown by BAFA funding for AI consulting.

Personnel and skilled workers

Recruitment, employee retention, work organization, management structures.

Profitability and Finance

Cost structures, pricing calculations, liquidity planning, profitability of individual business areas.

Strategy and Business Model

New markets, new target groups, adapting the offering, positioning.

Organization and Succession

Reorganizing processes and responsibilities, preparing business succession.

What is not funded

• Implementation: Software, licenses, programming, or the setup of systems are not consulting.
• Predominantly legal, insurance, or tax matters, annual financial statements and bookkeeping.
• Expert reports and consultations that are primarily about funding.
• Seminars, workshops and group events.
• Sales consulting: Consultations aimed at the sale of goods or services offered by the consultant.
• Double funding: Consultations that are additionally subsidized by other public funds.

Special case: healthcare professions

For physicians, dentists, psychotherapists and alternative practitioners, only consultations on the introduction or adaptation of a quality assurance system are eligible for funding. Other topics are excluded for these professions.

Who is not eligible to apply at all

Regardless of the topic, the following are excluded, among others: management consultants, tax advisors, auditors, lawyers and notaries, non-profit companies, associations and foundations, as well as companies with public-sector participation or participation by religious communities. For tax firms, the INQA Coaching as an alternative.

Tip: formulate the topic clearly

Formulate the consulting topic as a management question with the expected result, for example: “Analysis of order processing and recommendations on which steps can be digitized and supported with AI.” This makes it clear that the result will be an analysis with recommendations for action — and not implementation.

You can find the full requirements on the page BAFA consulting funding. Applications are possible until 31/12/2026 – more on this in BAFA deadline 31/12/2026. Whether you are eligible to apply is shown by the Funding check.

Which coaching services are available with BAFA funding?

Strictly speaking, BAFA subsidizes no coaching sessions, but management consulting: an analysis with concrete recommendations for action, up to five consulting days, concluded with a report. Group coaching, seminars, and workshops are expressly excluded. Anyone seeking a guided processseeks to work with employees – i.e. coaching in the true sense – is in the right place with INQA-Coaching: 80% subsidy nationwide for up to twelve consulting days.

Consulting or coaching: the comparison

• Program operator: BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control) – INQA-Coaching: Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
• Grant: BAFA 80% (new federal states, Lüneburg, Trier) or 50% – INQA 80% nationwide
• Scope: BAFA up to €3,500 in consulting costs, max. 5 days – INQA up to 12 days at max. €1,200 each
• Format: BAFA individual consulting with report – INQA participation-oriented process with lab team
• Term: BAFA applications until 31.12.2026 – INQA vouchers until 30.06.2028
• Frequency: BAFA up to 2 per year, 5 in total – INQA once per company

Examples of well-formulated consulting topics

• “Analysis of order processing and recommendations for digitalization and AI support”
• “Assessment of customer communication and concept for improved telephone accessibility”
• “Review of administrative processes and action plan to reduce manual data entry”
• “Strategy for securing skilled workers through more efficient work organization”

All examples are aimed at an analysis with recommendations – not at the implementation of specific software.

Who we are

bettersorted is BAFA-registered consultant and authorized INQA coach with a focus on digitalization and AI, based in Schwerin and co-founder of the KI|werk MV network. Among other things, we have supported the DRK Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the strategic introduction of AI and the Pumpenallianz Nord accompanied by AI consulting.

Who is allowed to carry out the consulting

Only consulting by consultants registered with BAFA is eligible for funding. The choice is free; the consultant does not have to come from your region. Pay attention to experience in the topic, verifiable references, and to the fact that the consulting is not aimed at selling the consultant's own products. More on this: Why a BAFA-listed consultant matters.

Five questions to assess your topic

1. Is it a matter of corporate management?
2. Should the result be an analysis with recommendations — not implementation?
3. Can the topic be addressed in no more than five consulting days?
4. Is it not predominantly a legal, tax, or funding-related matter?
5. Does the consulting take place as individual consulting, not as a workshop?

If you answer all five questions with yes, the topic is generally eligible for funding.

About bettersorted

bettersorted is an AI consulting and automation company from Schwerin. We are a BAFA-registered consultant, an authorized INQA coach, and co-founder of the KI|werk MV network; our practical experience comes from the social sector, skilled trades, and mid-sized businesses. Our solutions run on servers in Germany, with transparent workflows instead of a black box.

Frequently asked questions

Which consulting services are funded by BAFA?

Consulting on economic, financial, personnel, and organizational management issues — for example digitalization, the use of AI, securing skilled workers, costs, strategy, and succession.

Is digitalization consulting funded by BAFA?

Yes, as conceptual consulting with analysis and recommendations for action. Implementation, i.e. software, licenses, or programming, is not funded.

Does BAFA fund workshops or training sessions?

No. Seminars, workshops, and group events are excluded from funding. Only individual consulting for the applying company is funded.

Which coaching services are available with BAFA funding?

BAFA funds individual consulting, not coaching in the strict sense. For supported change processes involving employees, the BMAS INQA-Coaching programme is the appropriate option, available nationwide with an 80% grant.

As of October 2026. Only the currently valid version of the funding guideline is authoritative.