Business Advisory Services for SMEs (Förderung unternehmerischen Know-hows)

Business Advisory Services for SMEs, or Förderung unternehmerischen Know-hows, is BAFA's long-running management-consulting route for German small and medium-sized enterprises. It sits under the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control and gives smaller firms access to structured advice that larger companies usually buy on the open market. The scheme is delivered as subsidised consulting rather than capital funding. It supports work on finance, administration, human resources, and the diagnosis of operational weaknesses, with the consultant expected to translate findings into practical recommendations. The programme runs year-round in German and is aimed at companies operating in Germany, especially firms that need a documented advisory process rather than informal coaching. Applicants fit best when they can define a specific management problem and bring in a consultant who can document the issue, the analysis, and the action plan. The route is most useful for owner-managed firms that need disciplined external advice, including help with internal controls, team organisation, or financial stabilisation, not for teams looking for research or capital support.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.