Basics
Subsidies for start-ups

Eligibility for full unemployment pay (Arbeitslosengeld I)

Start-up subsidy
Promotional prerequisites 

• start-up subsidy
  
• prerequisite to promotion
• Extent of promotion
• Protection by social laws
• Recruitment subsidies
  

Eligibility for restricted unemployment pay (Arbeitslosengeld II)

• Start-up money for persons receiving restricted unemployment pay

Small start-ups

• Part-time start-ups
• Sideline start-ups
  

Help and information centers
Chambers of Trade (Handwerkskammern)
Chambers of Industry and Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammern, IHK)
Job agencies in Schleswig-Holstein
Business Development and Technology Transfer Corporation of Schleswig-Holstein (WTSH)
An example from Kiel – Project ‘Garage’
More useful information

 

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Setting up your own business means to become an entrepreneur. There may be different reasons for such a decision: You want to be self-reliant, realize your own ambitions, have success or resume a job on the first labor market.

But first you should reconsider whether you’re really fit for self-employment. You should possess or acquire a number of individual, but essential prerequisites such as self-discipline, determination, communication skills, creativity and risk awareness. Also, you will need professional and entrepreneurial know-how.

After a longer period of unemployment setting up your own business often seems to be the only way out of being dependent on unemployment benefit. During the first, rather difficult phase of putting your business idea to the test, you can benefit from various kinds of support, consulting and professional training.

Whether you are eligible for full (Arbeitslosengeld I) or restricted unemployment pay (Arbeitslosengeld II) you will find on this site several suggestions on how to get financial support as well as addresses of information centers and institutions which may provide competent assistance.

Setting up your own business will raise a whole bunch of rather complicated questions. If you are in need of more information, please contact us or one of the information centers specified below.

If you are looking for answers, please contact access@frsh.de

If you are eligible for full unemployment pay (Arbeitslosengeld I) you may be granted a so-called ‘start-up subsidy’ (Gründungszuschuss) on the condition that you are eligible for or receive full unemployment pay for at least 90 more days.

What you will need applying for a start-up subsidy:
-      a certificate of sustainability
-      business concept, CV, capital requirement and financing scheme, prospects of turnover and return of investment.

Chambers of industry and commerce and help and information centers (for addresses, see below) will readily help you to prepare the documents necessary.

Amount of promotion

The benefits covered by the start-up subsidy are

-       continued full unemployment pay without reduction for another 9 months
-       an additional monthly grant of 300 Euro for 9 months to cover all social security expenses such as health and care insurance or retirement provision
-       as of month 10 the additional monthly grant of 300 Euro may be continued in particular cases for 6 more months at the most.

Information in more detail can be found here

If you are eligible for restricted unemployment pay (Arbeitslosengeld II) you may be granted a subsidy for up to 24 months at the most.

But there is no such thing as a legal claim to this subsidy. It’s all a matter of negotiating with your local job agency.

Voluntary unemployment insurance for self-employed persons

Up to now, there was no unemployment insurance for the self-employed. As of Feb 1, 2006, they may now contribute on a voluntary base. Thus, they can build a claim for unemployment pay in case they have to give up their business.

Prerequisites for application:

How to apply: You have to apply with the Federal Employment Agency (‘Bundesagentur für Arbeit’) during your first month of self-employment. Your unemployment is not processed by the public health insurance (‚Gesetzliche Krankenkasse‘).

More information is to be found www.existenzgruender.de/selbstaendigkeit/
vorbereitung/gruendungswissen/versicherung/02477/index.php

Recruitment subsidies for new start-ups

The Federal Employment Agency (‘Bundesagentur für Arbeit’) has on offer special recruitment subsidies for start-ups recruiting unemployed workers. Employers whose business is not older than two years and holds not more than five employees may apply for this subsidy when they take on a person eligible for full or restricted unemployment on a permanent base for a newly-created job.

The subsidy has to be applied for with the branch of the Federal Employment Agency located at the prospective new employee’s place of residence ahead of the contract of employment being concluded. The subsidy is a discretionary benefit only, based on proactive labor market policy. This means that in each single case the local Employment Agency will decide upon amount and duration of the benefit subject to dutiful discretion and governed by legal provisions, based on the reason given by the employer.

Applying for the recruitment subsidy is possible for all self-employed who had been unemployed before setting up their own business, no matter whether they had been eligible for full or restricted unemployment pay.

You have received earnings replacement (‘Lohnersatzleistungen’) such as full unemployment pay (Arbeitslosengeld I), sickness or maternity benefits.You have paid unemployment insurance contributions for at least 12 months during the last 2 years Your self-employed activities amount to at least 15 hours a week

Part-time start-ups

If you don’t want to set up a full-blown business right away you might consider starting a part-time one. In this way, you can give yourself a try whether being self-employed could be your cup of tea in the long run. You can put your business idea to the test without any further employees initially.

Sideline start-ups

If you have a permanent job that you don’t want to give up (yet) you might consider setting up a sideline business. While you are trying to find out whether being self-employed is the right thing to do your main job will safeguard you financially.

 

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no news in this list.

The Chambers of Trade are verifying compliance with the Crafts and Trade Code, that is, establishing whether you are entitled to run a craft business or not. They offer advice as to what you need for your business to be registered with the Chamber of Trade as a craft business.

Setting up a business you must regard the prerequisites that are essential for the intended trade. Also, you should know which kinds of practice are permitted within this trade.

Crafts Liable to Registration

The Crafts and Trade Code (Handwerksordnung) covers 41 crafts liable to registration (appendix A). You need a master craftsman certificate (Meisterbrief) to pursue them.  But there are exceptions to this rule (though not for chimney sweeps, opticians, hearing aid audiologists, orthopedic technicians, orthopedic shoemakers and dental technicians)Qualified Skilled Crafts (qualifizierte Gesellen)

So-called qualified skilled crafts may apply for a business entitlement (Ausübungsberechtigung) with a higher administrative authority via their local Chamber of Trade (Handwerkskammer). Requirements: After having passed your skilled crafts examination you must have pursued your trade for a minimum of 6 years, at least 4 of them in a leading position. This has to be proven by certificates and attestations.

If you don’t have a master craftsman certificate (Meisterbrief) and/or don’t want to or cannot acquire a business entitlement (Ausübungsberechtigung) you may nevertheless set up a business  - provided you recruit a so-called technical manager (technischer Betriebsleiter) who has a master craftsman certificate. Registrable as well, though, are engineers, technicians and general foremen (Industriemeister).

Crafts not Liable to Registration

There are also 53 crafts which are not liable to registration (Crafts and Trade Code, appendix B1). In these trades basically everybody can get self-employed - without a master craftsman certificate or maybe even without a skilled crafts examination.

Craft-like Trades

Last but not least, no special prerequisites are required for setting up a business in one of 57 so-called craft-like trades (Crafts and Trade Code, appendix B2).

NEW!! Advancement Training Promotional Act (‘Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz‘, short: AFBG or ‘Meister-BaföG‘)

As of July 1, 2009 the new Meister-BaföG has gone into effect. It is supposed to govern partial abatements of loans, to facilitate successful final examinations and to help getting self-employed.

When you set up or take over a business and recruit new employees or trainees on a permanent base and subject to social insurance contributions you will be abated 1/3 of the rest of the loan granted for your training and examination fees.

Exhaustive information about Meister-BaföG can be found

www.meister-bafoeg.info

Contact persons with Chambers of Trade in Schleswig-Holstein:

Handwerkskammer Flensburg
Jörg Koll (Dithmarschen-Nord, Rendsburg-Eckernförde)
Sönke Wellhausen (Nordfriesland, Flensburg)
Susanne Braas (Schleswig-Flensburg, Dithmarschen-Süd)

Handwerkskammer Lübeck
Heiko Nissen (Lübeck)
Stefan Seestädt (Ostholstein)
Ricco Fiedler (Oldenburg, Ratzeburg, Neumünster)

Handwerkskammer Lübeck, Außenstelle Kiel
Hans-Werner Panthel (Kiel, Plön, Segeberg)

Handwerkskammer Lübeck, Außenstelle Elmshorn
Wolfgang Schölermann (Pinneberg, Itzehoe, Norderstedt)

www.hwk-luebeck.de

www.hwk-flensburg.de

weitere nützliche Informationen.

 

Zu allen Rechtsfragen, konzeptionellen und finanziellen Fragen können Informationen bei den Handwerkskammern eingeholt werden.

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For a long time the chambers of industry and commerce have been counseling start-ups, especially in regard to

• formalities (application procedure, prerequisites for admission, entry into the trade register, company name, legal form)
• financing
• governmental grant programs
• professional statements to institutions
• training offers on how to set up and develop a business
• ways of getting in touch with other people via their networking and information services
• reviewing start-up concepts
• advice as to location, market observation and competition.
  

Contact persons

 IHK zu Flensburg: Volker Seeger (Flensburg, Schleswig-Flensburg)

IHK zu Flensburg, Geschäftsstelle Dithmarschen: Telsche Ott

IHK zu Flensburg, Geschäftsstelle Nordfriesland: Peter Becker

IHK zu Kiel: Thomas Balk, Hans-Georg Billmann (Kiel, Plön, Altkreis Eckernförde)

IHK zu Kiel, Zweigstelle Rendsburg: Dorothee Reibisch (Altkreis Rendsburg)

IHK zu Kiel, Zweigstelle Neumünster: Herbert Reinecke (Neumünster)

IHK zu Kiel, Zweigstelle Elmshorn: Peter Ahrendt (Pinneberg, Steinburg)

IHK zu Lübeck: Nicole Kerling (Lübeck, Ostholstein, Segeberg, Oldenburg, Ratzeburg)

IHK zu Lübeck, Außenstelle Ahrensburg: Dietrich Janzen (Hamburg Randgemeinden Segeberg, Oldenburg, Ratzeburg)

Die jeweiligen Internetadressen finden Sie unter weitere nützliche Informationen

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Several kinds of assistance are on offer with the job agencies, ranging from preparatory or additional classes or training to financial support, financial support meaning bridge money, a start-up subsidy or a recruitment subsidy for hiring unemployed persons.

Information in more detail can be found:

www.arbeitsagentur.de

 

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www.wtsh.de will counsel you and assist you in finding suitable location and premises. They are the central business development organization in Schleswig-Holstein, networking people and companies. WTSH is tied closely to the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein, its Chambers of Commerce and the universities. All their offers are for free. 

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In August 2005 a project for start-ups called www.wasistgarage.de took off in Kiel. So far 200 permanently unemployed people have got a chance to start up and run their own company.

‘Garage’ disposes of a 400 sq ft room equipped with movable worktops, computer islands and cordless phones. 50 participants at a time can acquire the knowledge they need for setting up their own business. An important focus of the project lies on ways how to market their business idea.

The project’s participants are supported and counseled by external tutors. They have half a year to set up their business. Afterwards, they may attend project consultations and training for another 6 months.

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Extensive information about starting a business can be found www.existenzgruender.de To choose Turkish, English, French, Russian use the flag icons in the top right corner of their home page.

www.existenzgruender.de

Ein Existenzgründungsleitfaden
www.wir-helfen-gruenden.de

Für Frauen
www.gruenderinnenagentur.de

Web-Lotse für Gründer/innen
www.gruendungskatalog.de

Existenzgründung und Unternehmensführung im Handwerk
www.bis-handwerk.de

Industrie- und Handelskammern
www.ihk-flensburg.de
www.ihk-kiel.de
www.ihk-luebeck.de

 

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