Are you looking for financing to start your business? If so, you're in the right place. In this article, we've included comprehensive information on financing to start your own business. Find out how to find matching European funds. Find out if financing from the county labor office is for you. How about retraining with a grant in support from the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture? There are even more possibilities.
In order to find a program that fits your idea (business), it is important to follow the news about grants. For example, until recently it was possible to receive a grant, for example, under startup platforms. Currently, this opportunity is not available, but it may soon reappear in the same or updated form - under the new EU budget.
It is worth inquiring about the availability of the programs at the municipality, county or provincial offices.
Another channel through which funding is granted are the so-called local action groups. Find out if there is one operating in your area.
When you want to open a business, you can often count on getting funds from the District Labor Office.
Also check out what business incubators as well as gas pedals have to offer.
Innovative companies (startups) are often financed by venture capital or seed or pre-seed funds, i.e. venture capital funds.
New ventures are also financed under the Norwegian Funds or by institutions such as the Visegrad Group.
On top of that, it is also worth mentioning business contests organized by the media or corporations such as banks or oil companies. They often guarantee financial prizes for the winners.
The above list is just a sample of basic assistance programs. In reality, there are more opportunities and they change frequently. How, then, to find a solution that is currently available and fits your idea? The best way is to sign up for our grant guide on the website: DostepneDotacje.pl ; Then you won't miss the most interesting grants and other financing for companies.
EU grants for starting a business are non-refundable targeted funding for the implementation of specific activities. It is awarded to improve your starting situation. Especially a lot of programs are available in the area of modern technology or ecology.
Grants are awarded to entities that meet the criteria set forth in the regulations of a particular program. In the case of grants to support the establishment of a business, these are, of course, future entrepreneurs.
Grants from the labor office are very popular in Poland. This is an amount of about PLN 30,000 (variable - depends on the average salary). It can be used to finance, for example, equipment necessary for business operations.
The application may vary slightly from county to county. It has a form similar to business plan.
Starting a business with PUP support is aimed at improving the labor market situation, including offering alternatives to those who have not been helped to find a job.
Our company does not prepare applications to the labor office. However, it is worth using the support of a consultant who will at least check such an application before submitting it. This will increase the chances of success.
The first step is to find a suitable program, as described above. It is a good idea to use a guide or the support of specialists.
The second step is to carefully read the terms and conditions of the business grant. This will allow you to avoid disappointment at the negative evaluation of the application or at the stage of accounting for the project.
Starting your own business with a grant requires filling out an appropriate application (often a business plan). This is step three on the way to obtaining EU or other funds.
Later comes the decision to grant (or not grant) financing. If you receive a positive decision then, following that, you enter into an agreement with the financing institution.
Finally, you start implementing your business project, along with the funding. The funds are disbursed as cost advances or as reimbursement for the costs you have incurred. It all depends on the provisions of the regulations.
In the end, it remains to settle the project - so that everything agrees in the paperwork. Both yours and the office that awarded you the grant.
In addition to grants, it is also worth checking out other solutions, attack like preferential loans. They are often characterized by lower-than-usual loan interest rates or easier access to such financing for new businesses (compared to commercial banks' offerings).
Also, the purpose of a loan or credit is usually more flexible than a grant from the job center or another source.
The obvious drawback, however, is the need to return the funding.
BGK is just one institution where you should check out the offer. Preferential loans are often available through organizations operating in a particular province. For example, in Silesia it was until recently the Silesia Foundation. TISE's offer is also worth checking out.
It is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the offerings of such institutions before starting your business.
Starting a business with a grant in certain situations requires showing a contribution. This mainly applies to larger grants awarded by institutions such as PARP. In the case of LAGs or the labor office, an own contribution is usually not mandatory to receive a grant.
In certain situations, funding institutions additionally require grant security in the form of, for example, a promissory note. This refers to the situation of securing the return of funds in the event that the applicant fails to meet the conditions to which he has committed himself. However, this is not a standard, but rather an exceptional situation.
The level of contribution for EU 2023 grants for starting a business depends on the location of the project. The most favorable conditions apply to businesses located in eastern Poland. In the case of grants from the labor office, location does not matter much.
It is definitely worth taking advantage of EU grants. They give you a chance for faster development, and often without them the start is completely impossible.
The launch of a new business (service) often makes it possible to realize the needs of consumers, which also has a positive value for society. Especially since it is the small and medium-sized business sector that is most responsible for the development of the economy. Therefore, the state should support business development, and entrepreneurs should make the most of opportunities in this regard.
At the same time, it should be remembered that starting a business involves a lot of responsibilities, and the use of EU start-up funds further increases the level of billing and administrative duties. However, this seems a low price to pay for the opportunity to develop a new business idea.
Startups, i.e. newly established technology companies, are in a special situation. They can count on dedicated grant programs implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) or on support from numerous business incubators, gas pedals or investment funds and business angels.
Private investors are looking for new companies mainly in areas such as fintech, ecology, foodtech, e-commerce, deeptech.
For the aforementioned reasons, it is worth considering opening a company in one of the aforementioned industries. Larger EU grants for starting a company are easier to obtain having the so-called R&D component, i.e. concerning the development of innovative technologies. Also check out what technology parks operating in your region are doing and what solutions they are looking for.
See past support programs for companies. This may be a good indication of guidelines and criteria.
Whether you plan to run a business registered in the register of economic activity (CEiDG) or in the National Court Register, keep a close eye on EU projects for companies. Once you find the right program, read the detailed specifications.
When applying for a grant, it's best to consult an application or have it prepared by a professional. If you have not dealt with such applications before, you may have trouble filling it out properly on your own.
Opening a business with the support of funds from the European Union is subject to a positive evaluation of the application.
To maximize your chances, first, figure out whether your business meets the formal criteria for a grant. Second, support yourself with the knowledge and experience of an external specialist. Preferably, entrust him with the development of the application (business plan).
Eligibility for funding often also depends on the number of applications (competition). The more applications submitted, the greater the competition and the higher the scoring thresholds.
Occasionally, scoring is affected by the date of submission (privileges for applications submitted earlier). Usually, applications submitted within one call or one round of calls are scored the same, regardless of when exactly they were received. To be sure of this on 100%, read the project selection criteria indicated in the regulations.
Most often you can spend the funds on costs such as fixed assets (necessary equipment), less often on employment (salaries) or marketing. It all depends on the specifications of the project in question. Sometimes the purpose of the funds is very broad and you freely decide how to spend them - of course, it must be for a purpose related to business development.
For companies located in the countryside, programs such as the "young farmer" or funds for opening non-agricultural business activities in the countryside have so far been available. Both programs were implemented with the participation of the Agency for the Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture.
It is likely that the new budget perspective will also include funds dedicated to opening businesses in the countryside. It is worth keeping track of information in this regard, not only on the ARMA or labor office website.
If you are looking for a company that can help you find the right support program and write an application - we recommend ourselves. We have extensive experience in successfully writing proposals, business plans and developing other documentation for financing (also investor presentations or loan applications).
Contact us to discuss your needs. We will look for a tailored solution.
NOTE - we do not write applications to labor offices! This is due to the relatively low amount of subsidies. It is unprofitable.
In addition to the support programs indicated above, there are also alternatives.
Perhaps your solution is more in line with the criteria of private investors? If, for example, you are creating an innovative technological solution, the chances of that are pretty good.
In addition, preferential loans (soft loans) are also available. To learn more about them, start at the Bank of National Economy website. You can also look for institutions that grant such financing in your province.
Finally, in addition to grants from the EU, there are also funds on the market in the form of grants or subsidies from other sources. Examples? The Visegrad Group, Norwegian Funds, funds granted by private companies (in recent years Orlen, Azoty, ING Bank Slaski, among others).
As you can see, there are many possibilities, it is difficult to cite them all here. If you are thinking seriously about financing your idea or an already operating company, it is worth talking to specialists about it. They will help you plan the whole process step by step and select financing tailored to your needs.
Financing a startup company is often a major challenge. This is due to the lack of a sufficient number of customers and large capital expenditures at the beginning of the company's development.
European funds for starting your own business, or any other source of financing, can effectively reduce this problem. For this reason, it is worth taking advantage of them.
To make this possible, the first and necessary step is to find the right program. EU projects change very often, and calls are usually short. In order not to miss a matching grant, it is worth keeping up to date on the subject. On your own or with the help of specialists.
Drawing up a proposal can sometimes be complicated. Here, too, you can support yourself with the knowledge and experience of experts.
Although EU grants for starting a business will not assure you 100% the success of your business, they can significantly improve your chances. It's worth looking into, especially since the current EU budget is the last such large injection of money for Polish entrepreneurs. There will probably not be another such opportunity.
Are European funds for opening a business currently available?
Yes, EU funding under the 2021-2027 budget is now available. Full summaries of support programs (not only from the EU) are available as part of our guide. You can sign up for it at DostepneDotacje.pl ;
What amount of support can I receive as a budding entrepreneur?
It all depends on the criteria of the given support program. Usually the amount ranges from tens of thousands of zlotys in the case of grants from the labor office to several million zlotys in the case of programs such as those from the NCBiR, ARiMR or NFOŚiGW.
Do I need to have an equity contribution?
In the case of smaller grants (up to 100 - 200 thousand zlotys), an own contribution is often not required. The unequivocal answer to this question is found in the program regulations. When it comes to larger funding implemented by PARP or NCBiR, own contribution is usually required. Most often, its level depends on where the project is implemented. In this aspect, it is most advantageous to implement the project in eastern Poland. These are the following provinces: warmińsko-mazurskie, podlaskie, lubelskie, podkarpackie and świętokrzyskie.
If I have an already operating company, do I also have a chance for grants?
As much as possible. Many programs are dedicated to existing companies. If you are interested in solutions in this area, contact us. We will steer you in the right direction.
