You are starting a business and are interested in grants for opening a business? If yes, you are in the right place. Read this article before applying. Starting your own business with financial support can make things much easier. You will learn about the procedure for receiving a grant, whether the subject of the planned business activity matters, and much more practical information on business financing.
In order to get start-up funds for your business, you can use various solutions.
Before you choose one of them, remember that the greatest freedom comes from financing development with your own funds (bootstrapping). If, nevertheless, you are interested in external financing, continue reading.
There are quite a few support programs. It is worthwhile to find out whether funds are available from the district labor office (unemployment status may be required) or local action groups. Other entities granting funding include the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, the National Center for Research and Development, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management or the Industrial Development Agency. And these are just examples, this is not an exhaustive list.
Also find out what local technology parks, business incubators, business gas pedals, a national farm bank, among others, offer.
When you're interested in EU grants or funds from other sources, it's a good idea to keep up-to-date with information on calls for proposals. Support programs change frequently, and calls are often relatively short. Therefore, it's easy to miss available opportunities. And, unfortunately, funds are not available nonstop, and missing the right program can result in the inability to obtain funding.
So how do you check the availability of programs? You can check a dozen sources on your own every day. In practice, however, you probably won't do it, because it costs a lot of time. An alternative is to sign up for our grant guide on the site: DostepneDotacje.pl
In virtually every case of starting your own business, there is a significant financial outlay to be made at the outset. Before registering in the business registry or KRS, it is worthwhile to make a business plan and estimate future costs.
Cost is the main incentive to use external financing. Start-up grants can be a solution.
Keep in mind, however, that taking advantage of EU funds also brings responsibilities (such as clearing the project). Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully analyze the specific funding for your own business before submitting an application. Conditions, including information on possible own contribution, are usually indicated in the regulations.
Starting your own business with a grant, must be preceded by finding the right program. The business must fit under the criteria specified in the project regulations.
Next, the application must be professionally drafted. You can do this on your own or entrust this task to specialists. If you want to use our support, an important caveat - we do not write applications to the district labor office. For other programs, feel free to contact us.
Once the application is properly drafted and you are on the shortlist, the contract is concluded.
At the end it remains to properly implement the project and account for it. It is important to draft the application (anticipate future circumstances) in such a way that later it will be possible to implement the project in accordance with the assumptions of the application.
Grants from the labor office or European funds more broadly are not the only option for financing a business. The first alternative is to apply to a VC fund (pre-seed fund). These are entities that finance innovative businesses at the idea or early development stage.
In addition to VC funds, you should also consider talking to wealthy individuals. You can find them in your neighborhood or through intermediaries.
Few entrepreneurs know that in addition to the traditional bank offerings, preferential loans are also available on the market. The difference is a lower interest rate or an extended grace period for repayment. In other words, the funds may have to be repaid, but the overall conditions are very favorable. Sometimes it is also easier to obtain such financing (no own contribution). At the same time, the destination of the funds is more free than in the case of most grants.
Where to look for preferential loans? For example, through the BGK or local institutions.
See what you need, depending on your choice of financing:
If you are opening a business in a rural area, check out the programs implemented by the ARMA. This institution often has an offer dedicated to entrepreneurs in these areas. Of course, in addition to this, you can also apply for financing from other sources.
In recent years, support programs such as "Young Farmer" or "Grant for the establishment of non-agricultural business" have been popular. In both cases, it was possible to receive significant financial assistance to start a business.
As of February 2023, funding is available, among others, for opening a business under the SMART path - a program implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.
Under this program, you can get funding to conduct business activities, as long as they are related to research work and/or implementation of research results.
A future entrepreneur or an already operating one can receive funds, the amount of which depends on where the project is implemented. The most favorable conditions are available to companies located in the provinces of eastern Poland. Companies from other parts of Poland can also apply for financing, but the level of financing in their case will be lower. Interestingly, companies from Warsaw and directly neighboring towns and cities have no chance for financing due to their too high level of development.
We are often approached by clients asking us to write a business plan for grants. Not everyone is aware that a business plan can take different forms and levels of detail. In view of this, it is first necessary to learn the details of a given support program (these vary). Only then it makes sense to create a business plan strictly for a grant.
On the other hand, in case you already have a business plan, it is much easier to draft an application. In most cases, a grant application is in a form similar to a business plan. Therefore, if you develop a business plan in advance, elements such as market analysis, competitive analysis, financial projections will be largely ready. This will reduce the risk that you will not be able to submit the application in time. The application for a business grant must be submitted by the deadline indicated in the regulations (the day of application). Sometimes, an application submitted faster equals a better chance of a successful application.
Leaving aside the relationship between a business plan and EU startup funds, a business plan is worth having anyway. It allows you to plan activities, count costs, prepare for various scenarios, etc. For the aforementioned reasons, it's worth making one as soon as you have a business idea in mind. You can do it yourself or have it done by professionals. On our blog you will find a series of articles on making a business plan. You will learn from them how to make a business plan - if you finally decide to develop it yourself. For my part, of course, I recommend doing it in cooperation with experienced professionals. This usually guarantees a higher quality document.
If you are starting your own high-tech business, you can probably call it a "startup." In recent years there have been dozens of grant projects for this type of company. These included "Eastern Poland Startup Platforms" or "Development of Startups in Eastern Poland."
Startups have also found their place in the current EU budget for 2021-2027. Support can be counted on primarily for companies carrying out scientific research (R&D), implementing innovations resulting from R&D or implementing eco-innovations. An example of another sector that can count on support in this area is the manufacturing industry (Industry 4.0 or robotization).
Opening your own business is a dream for many people, but it comes with many costs and risks. One way to minimize these costs is to apply for grants to open a business.
Grants for opening a business are a form of financial support offered by public and private institutions. Their purpose is to increase the chances of success for new businesses, especially those in sectors that are considered innovative or strategic for the region.
To receive a grant, you must meet certain requirements and submit an application to an institution that offers this type of support. In most cases, a business plan is required, which includes information about the product or service, market, competition, goals and costs.
There are many types of grants for opening a business, such as:
Start-up grants - offered by public or private institutions to help new businesses cover the costs associated with purchasing necessary equipment, renting premises, buying materials, etc.
Research and development grants - offered by entities that fund projects that research and develop new products or services.
Grants for employee training - offered by entities that fund training for employees and business owners to increase their skills and knowledge.
Green grants - offered by entities that finance environmental projects, such as renewable energy installations or projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions.
Export grants - offered by entities that finance the export of products and services from a given industry, with the aim of promoting exports and increasing the competitiveness of Polish producers on the international market.
Grants for opening a business are a great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to minimize financial risks and increase their chances of success. However, it is worth remembering that these grants are limited (their availability), and the process of obtaining them can be time-consuming and require a lot of work. For this reason, it is advisable to plan the entire process in advance and consult the possibilities with specialists.
Grants for opening a business are usually aimed at budding entrepreneurs who want to start a business. Requirements and criteria vary from program to program.
Grants for opening a business can cover a variety of costs, including, for example, the purchase of necessary equipment, rental of premises, purchase of materials, training, research and development, installation of renewable energy sources, reduction of CO2 emissions and much more. It all depends on the program regulations. The first step is to find a program that fits your company's profile, business location, etc. The granting of a grant may also depend on your own contribution.
Grants for opening a business can be offered by various institutions, including the government, local governments, state agencies, ministries, private organizations, the European Union, among others.
To receive full summaries of currently available grants - sign up for the dostepnedotacje.pl newsletter
If you prefer to look for programs on your own on an ongoing basis, check sources such as PARP, NCBiR, municipal and county offices, county labor office, Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, NFOŚiGW.
In addition to grants, you can also look for private capital. Check out seed (pre-seed) capital funds, for example. Private investors often look for new companies to invest in themselves. However, you need to know how to fit into their criteria. It is certainly worth drawing up a detailed business plan in the form of a so-called pitch deck.
Documentation requirements vary from program to program, but usually you will need to submit a business plan or business concept, documents proving the establishment of your own business and possibly other documents related to the project. You will find specific conditions in the regulations of the program that interests you. Receipt of funds depends on their fulfillment.
