Start-up Grant for Master Craft Businesses in Lower Saxony

The program targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lower Saxony's craft sector that have undertaken a new founding, business succession, or active participation. The goal is to secure the existing businesses and create new, permanent jobs to sustainably strengthen the economic basis of these businesses. The funding aims to improve the start-up climate in Lower Saxony.

The subject of funding is the permanent new employment of a full-time, socially insured workforce after a founding, takeover, or active participation in the Lower Saxon master crafts sector. Only lump-sum personnel expenses for this new employee are eligible for funding. The funding is designed to support the creation of sustainable jobs in the supported companies.

The start-up grant is provided as a non-repayable subsidy in the form of a fixed-amount financing. The subsidy amounts to a flat rate of 10,000 EUR and corresponds to 50% of the eligible expenses. The duration of a funded project is limited to twelve months.

Applicants must meet various legal and operational requirements to receive the start-up grant in the Lower Saxon craft sector. These include, among others, proof of founding or takeover in the master crafts sector, the creation of a new, permanent full-time position, and compliance with the de minimis rule. Special attention must also be paid to EU-wide cross-cutting objectives.

The application procedure for the start-up grant in the Lower Saxon craft sector is carried out via the Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen (NBank). Applications must be submitted before the start of the project, with the conclusion of the employment contract considered as the project start. The disbursement of the subsidy takes place after examination of the proof of use, which includes relevant documents such as the employment contract and social insurance records.

The start-up grant in the Lower Saxon master crafts sector is based on the guideline for granting subsidies to promote business start-ups and successions in the Lower Saxon master crafts sector. It is supplemented by various EU regulations and the State Budget Ordinance of Lower Saxony and is set to be valid until the end of 2029.