Starting a business is a big challenge. To make it easier to get started or to support the growth of an already operating company, it is worth taking advantage of grants or other forms of support. If you are interested in the topic of financing your business development, you are in the right place. Read this article to find out what support you can get from the European Union and more.
Self-financing is a form of financial assistance to help entrepreneurs develop their business. It is provided by various institutions, such as labor offices, government agencies, local governments but also banks (in the form of loans and credits). This subsidy can be in the form of a grant, loan or other financial support to facilitate the start-up or development of a business.
Entrepreneurs can apply for funding for various purposes, such as the purchase of new machinery and equipment, export development, employee training or advertising and promotion of their business. Depending on the institution providing the subsidy and the purpose for which it is intended, different conditions and requirements may apply.
In order to obtain a grant, an entrepreneur must submit an appropriate application, which will include information about the business activity, the purpose for which the grant is intended and the financial plan. Such an application should be submitted to the relevant office or institution that provides the subsidy.
Receiving financing for your own business is very beneficial, as it allows you to develop your business without incurring additional financial obligations. This can be especially important for young entrepreneurs who are just starting out and do not have a lot of financial resources. Starting a business with external financial support increases the chances of success.
Funds for opening a business are offered by various institutions. These include, for example, district labor offices and the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP). Startup grants can also be sought in other places. Support programs are often offered by local governments, local action groups or gas pedals.
Obtaining the funds is subject to meeting the formal requirements specified in the regulations. To receive, an application must be submitted, a sample of which can also be found in the project documentation. The application should be submitted by the deadline indicated in the documentation (the call period). The question of possible own contribution also depends on the individual case. The district labor office often offers grants without the requirement to show an own contribution. For larger grants, an own contribution is usually required.
The application should be submitted taking into account the required content and attachments. The most common form is similar to business plan. The award of funds depends on meeting formal requirements and high merit scores. That is why it is worthwhile to have the support of specialists.
If you want to get grants to start a business, the first step is to identify currently available European funds for companies. You can do this by monitoring the funds' websites on an ongoing basis and on your own, or by using the support of a consulting firm.
The amount of startup grants varies depending on the support program.
In the case of the popular subsidy from the District Labor Office, it is usually about 30,000 PLN.
The amount of startup grants can be even many times higher. An example is funding under the "Development of Startups in Eastern Poland" program, where you can get up to one million zlotys (mandatory 15% own contribution).
The National Research and Development Center awards funding running into the millions.
In summary, there are many support programs for new businesses. The amount of funding varies depending on the program and the granting institution. Therefore, the topic of financing for companies is worth keeping up to date in order not to miss the program that suits your business.
Are you running a business? Nothing to lose. Usually, there are even more grants for already established companies than for start-ups.
You can look for information on calls for proposals in the same sources as for funds for new companies. These include the labor office, PARP, gas pedals or the website funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl ; As a rule, grants from the district labor office are only awarded to new companies - this has been the case until now.
Examples of grant programs for existing companies (past calls):
The above list is only a sample. There were and are many more programs. They change frequently. EU grants for companies is not the only source of funds. Funds are also granted by other institutions and organizations. Even such non-obvious ones as the Visegrad Group, for example.
In 2023 and beyond, there will be new support programs. Some of them are to be a continuation of those implemented in the past. Others are to be completely new.
Positive processing of the application depends on the quality of the submitted application. Therefore, also in this case, it is worth hiring experienced experts.
There are several major risks associated with obtaining subsidies for companies:
Examples of other risks:
The most important factor in increasing the chances of obtaining financing is the preparation of a good application. It is important to carefully read the requirements for applying for grants and prepare the documents in accordance with the requirements. It is also a good idea to consult a person experienced in applying for grants or hire a specialist to help prepare the application.
The first step is to find a support program that fits your company. To do this, you can either search the Internet or use guides prepared by consulting companies. You can find an example of a service in this regard here: https://dostepnedotacje.pl ;
When selecting a grant, pay attention to the formal criteria in the regulations. This will increase your chances of getting funding. In addition, you will avoid unpleasant surprises at the stage of accounting for the grant.
Remember, too, that subsidies are not the only option for financing business development. Loans (including preferential ones) or funds offered by private investors are also available on the market.
Entrepreneurs can apply for business grants under both government and local government programs. Grants are given for specific purposes, such as the development of new technologies, modernization of the enterprise, investment in machinery and equipment, or the hiring of employees.
In order to apply for a business grant, an entrepreneur must meet certain conditions, such as having a registered office in a particular province, operating a business in a particular industry, or having relevant experience and qualifications.
An application for a business grant must be submitted to the relevant office or institution that grants funding for the activity.
To see if you can apply for a grant, contact the funding institution or get back to us.
This is a form of financial assistance provided by various institutions (e.g. the state, local governments) to entrepreneurs or individuals planning to start their own business. These grants are used to support business development and can be used for various purposes. E.g. purchase of equipment, investment in real estate, development of products or services, training for employees, etc.
Those eligible for business grants depend on the type of grant and the granting institution. Typically, they are entrepreneurs who are engaged in business or those who are planning to establish a business. In some cases, they may also be NGOs, associations or local government units.
Information about available grants for entrepreneurs can be found, among other things, on the websites of institutions providing assistance, such as the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, the National Research and Development Center, as well as in Labor Offices and on the websites of local governments. It is also worth looking at the offers of consulting companies that help in obtaining financing. Grants change frequently and are awarded by very different entities. Therefore, the list of currently available grants should be kept up to date.
The basic document is usually an application, the model of which is provided by the granting institution. Often among the mandatory attachments you can find a business plan or relevant statements. The exact list of requirements is indicated each time in the program regulations.
