The Jobcenter mainly wants to know one thing: Will your business make you independent of Grundsicherungsgeld? VENTUREPLAN helps you prove exactly that with a coherent plan.
Starts with the “Gründungszuschuss & Einstiegsgeld” template
Einstiegsgeld (start-up allowance, § 16b SGB II) is a grant for people who receive Grundsicherungsgeld (basic income support, the benefit that replaced Bürgergeld) and go self-employed full-time. The Jobcenter pays it for a maximum of 24 months on top of basic income support, without deducting it. How much you get and for how long is set by your Integrationsfachkraft (Jobcenter caseworker). There is no legal entitlement. What counts is whether there are good prospects that self-employment will mean you no longer depend on Grundsicherungsgeld in future, and you show that with your business plan.
Bring up your plans at the Jobcenter before you start your business. Ask which documents are required and whether a third-party statement on viability is needed.
Text and numbers: offer, market, sales, capital requirements, profitability and cash flow. Especially important: when your income will cover the needs of your whole household.
If the Jobcenter asks for it, have your plan reviewed by a fachkundige Stelle, for example the IHK (Chamber of Commerce), Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Crafts) or a start-up advisory service. Some Jobcenters have their own partners for this.
Submit your plan and supporting documents. The caseworker sets the amount, duration and possibly a step-down schedule. Only start your business after you've agreed on it.
During the funding period the Jobcenter regularly asks about income and expenses. A well-maintained financial plan makes this paperwork easy.
Chapter by chapter: what the reviewer wants to see in each part.
01
What you offer, to whom, and when you'll be able to live off your income, on one page.
02
Training, experience and knowledge that fit your business. Explain openly how you'll close gaps, for example through courses or start-up coaching.
03
Specific services with specific prices. The more tangible, the more credible.
04
Who buys from you, how do you reach them, and is there enough demand in your region?
05
Who offers something similar, and why do customers choose you?
06
Your first customers: channels, existing contacts, a realistic timeline for the ramp-up.
07
What equipment and start-up costs do you need? For necessary purchases the Jobcenter can also grant loans or grants (§ 16c SGB II); these then go into your financing plan.
08
Three years of revenue, costs and profit, the first year month by month. Every revenue assumption needs a derivation.
09
The core of the review: When will your profit cover the needs of your Bedarfsgemeinschaft (benefit household), including health insurance and pension provision? Without this part, there's no proof that you can leave basic income support.
This is how the people deciding on your application think.
The Jobcenter looks at the whole Bedarfsgemeinschaft. If you support a partner or children, the plan has to show when the business will cover their needs too.
Full capacity from month two isn't believable. Plan a realistic ramp-up curve; the funding is meant for exactly this phase.
As a self-employed person you pay health and long-term care insurance yourself. If this item is missing, the numbers don't add up.
Einstiegsgeld is paid for taking up an activity. Agree things with the Jobcenter before you register your business.
A plan that only covers a few hours a week doesn't meet the requirements. Show that you're running the business with full commitment.
The chapter structure covers what Jobcenters and fachkundige Stellen review, including living costs and private withdrawals.
Revenue, costs, cash flow and profitability are calculated from your inputs. You see right away from which month your income covers your needs.
The AI advisor shows you where derivations are missing or text and numbers don't match, and suggests specific improvements.
Your financial plan stays up to date. When the Jobcenter asks about income and expenses, you have the numbers at hand.
Founders often combine these routes or weigh them against each other.
Grant from the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) for people on ALG I (unemployment benefit) who go self-employed full-time. You need a viable business plan.
Read the guideKfW's ERP-Gründerkredit – StartGeld: up to €200,000 through your Hausbank, with KfW taking on 80% of the risk. The bank requires a bankable business plan.
Read the guideThe state Bürgschaftsbanken (guarantee banks) back loans when collateral is lacking, usually up to 80% of the loan. Your business plan is the basis for the decision.
Read the guideThere's no fixed amount. The caseworker sets the amount at the start, taking into account things like the size of your household and how long you've been unemployed. The amount can decrease over the funding period. It's paid on top and isn't deducted from your Grundsicherungsgeld.
A maximum of 24 months. The Jobcenter sets the exact duration.
Yes. Grundsicherungsgeld has replaced Bürgergeld, and Einstiegsgeld for self-employment still exists. Some documents still use the term “Bürgergeld”.
The Gründungszuschuss comes from the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) and is aimed at people receiving Arbeitslosengeld I. Einstiegsgeld comes from the Jobcenter and is aimed at people receiving Grundsicherungsgeld. Both have very similar requirements for the business plan.
The Jobcenter can ask for a third-party statement on viability (Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung), for example from a fachkundige Stelle or a bank. It's best to ask in your first meeting what your Jobcenter expects.
Yes. Under § 16c SGB II, loans and grants are possible for equipment that is necessary and appropriate for your self-employment. For that, too, you have to prove viability.
Yes. VENTUREPLAN has a shared template for the Gründungszuschuss and Einstiegsgeld, because both reviews ask the same core questions.
You can create, edit and preview your business plan for free, no credit card required. To download it as PDF or Word, you upgrade the plan to Pro once, including AI credits. No subscription.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026. VENTUREPLAN is an independent service and is not affiliated with any of the funding bodies mentioned. All information without guarantee; the current guidelines and the decision of the responsible body are what count.
Template, automatic financial plan and AI feedback. Free, no credit card required.