Get AVGS one-on-one coaching for your startup free of charge

Legal basis: Section 45 SGB III

The Activation and Placement Voucher (AVGS) is regulated in Section 45 of the German Social Code III. It is the most important labour-market instrument to support the transition from unemployment into regular employment — or into full-time self-employment. The Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Job Center covers the full cost of the programme; you as a participant pay nothing.

Important: AVGS is a legal entitlement once the eligibility criteria are met and the case worker considers the programme purposeful. Approval is at the case worker's discretion, but the reasoning must be objective — and this is exactly where our preparation comes in.

For a programme to be reimbursable via AVGS, the delivering provider must be certified under AZAV (the accreditation regulation for labour-market services). Business Start EU cooperates for this with Starthilfe Bildungswerk GmbH, an established, AZAV-approved education provider. The professional consulting — business plan, financial planning, viability certificate — comes from the BAFA-registered team of Business Start EU (consultant number 205985, on the market since 2019).

1. Extensive AVGS coaching team on site

At Businessstart.eu we work with a network of qualified AVGS coaches who can respond individually to your needs. For example, you can work with coaches based directly on site in Stuttgart, Berlin or Munich.

Additional coaching options are also available in cities such as Bonn, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, where we can place advisors locally. In cooperation with our partner Beratungsdienst Paulisch, an entire team of coaches supports you so that you are well prepared for your new role in self-employment.

2. AVGS coaching online

With the certified programs we offer, in addition to in-person support on site you also have the option of completing the program directly online. For this we use the latest and most modern methods to deliver the learning content competently and professionally.

AVGS coaching online is an excellent option for people who find it difficult to be on site at fixed times. This is the case, for example, if you are a young mother in employment or have other family obligations.

Take advantage of AVGS coaching online to schedule your lessons flexibly. The quality of AVGS online coaching is in no way inferior to traditional in-person meetings. You also receive a printed brochure and learn directly on screen which software options can support you later when you start your business.

In some respects, AVGS coaching online offers even more advantages than traditional coaching, since you can work directly from your home office.

3. What is AVGS coaching for?

AVGS coaching is the ideal preparation for your self-employment if, for example, you were previously employed and do not yet have enough experience as a self-employed person. Many of the people who apply for AVGS coaching have not been active in the labor market for several years or, due to the current job market situation in their industry, can no longer find a suitable position.

This may be, for example, because the labor market is constantly changing or because you have reached an age where new vocational training is difficult or simply impossible. Through AVGS coaching you can become more aware of your goals again and build on your strengths. You also learn how to network with other self-employed people and how to work independently.

AVGS coaching can also be a great help for academics who have not been active in the labor market for a longer time and have difficulty finding a suitable job, supporting them in successfully starting self-employment and beginning a new chapter in life.

5. How can I take part in AVGS one-on-one coaching?

AVGS one-on-one coaching has been specifically developed for people who hold an activation and placement voucher (AVGS) issued by the Jobcenter. Known in short as AVGS, it funds "measures for activation and professional integration" and is financed specifically by the Jobcenter.

If you want to start a business, are currently looking for work or are registered as unemployed, you may be able to use this activation and placement voucher (AVGS) to attend AVGS one-on-one coaching.

6. Who is eligible for an AVGS voucher?

Applying for AVGS is particularly promising for you when one of the following criteria applies:

• You were unemployed for at least 6 weeks within the last 3 months
• You have been unemployed for 3 months
• You are entitled to unemployment benefits
• You have not yet been placed in a job

However, you can also apply for an AVGS if one of these criteria applies:

• You have been unemployed for less than 6 weeks
• You are still employed but have already received notice of termination
• You are entitled to unemployment benefit II
• You are a student
• Or you are at risk of unemployment

In these cases you can apply for an AVGS at the Jobcenter; however, the final decision lies with the Jobcenter.

7. How do I apply for an AVGS voucher?

You can submit an AVGS application by mail, by email or in person at the Jobcenter or the Federal Employment Agency. It is best to contact your personal advisor on site.

At Businessstart.eu, in cooperation with our partner Beratungsdienst Paulisch, we can provide you with a template for the application. If your case worker considers AVGS coaching to be appropriate, you will receive an AVGS voucher directly from the employment agency or the Jobcenter, indicating the purpose, scope and time period for the measure.

It can happen that you do not receive the full course of 96 lessons but, for example, only 36 lessons. This is at the discretion of your case worker.

Once you have received the voucher, it is best to send us the original. You can also send us a copy in advance by email or WhatsApp. We will then forward all the necessary documents to your responsible authority. Once the measure has been approved you will receive confirmation from us that your application has been granted. We can then start the coaching.

8. What does AVGS cost?

With an activation and placement voucher, eligible participants receive the program completely free of charge once the Jobcenter has granted approval. It is therefore a measure that is 100% funded by the Federal Employment Agency and the Jobcenter.

In some cases certain costs can also be reimbursed, such as childcare costs. However, this requires a separate agreement with the responsible Jobcenter.

9. Experiences with AVGS

We regularly receive positive feedback about experiences with AVGS. Many founders tell us that they had been looking for a fulfilling job for several years but did not know how best to become self-employed.

Despite numerous applications, many were unable to find a fulfilling job or did not have enough courage to start their own business. AVGS one-on-one coaching therefore prepares many people successfully for the phase of business formation.

10. One-on-one coaching even without an activation voucher?

You may now be wondering whether you can also take part in AVGS one-on-one coaching if you do not have an AVGS voucher. Unfortunately, that is not possible — at least not free of charge.

However, we offer the option of taking part in one-on-one coaching specifically tailored to you within our regular course program. In many cases, participation in the individual consulting within our course program can be subsidized by the state by up to 80%. Take a look there!

11. How do I argue the necessity to the case worker?

From over 200 supported founder processes, we know: the most common reason for an AVGS rejection is not a lack of eligibility — it's a weak argument in the meeting. Case workers see dozens of requests every day and decide in a matter of minutes. Anyone who comes with clear, well-reasoned arguments gets approval far more often than someone asking for "some coaching" in general.

The five lines of argument that work in practice:

1. A concrete founding project — Not "I'm thinking about becoming self-employed", but: "I'm planning to launch as [industry/activity] on [date]. For the viability certificate I need a complete business plan and financial plan, which I cannot produce at that quality on my own."
2. Integration as the objective — Section 45 SGB III exists for labour-market integration. Argue: "Without professional support, an unsuccessful founding — and thus a return to unemployment — is likely. AVGS coaching is the most cost-effective way to prevent that."
3. Viability certificate as a requirement — If you also want to apply for the Startup Grant, the viability certificate is mandatory. It can only be issued by a qualified body (e.g. BAFA-registered consultants like us). The coaching creates the basis for it.
4. Name your knowledge gaps concretely — "I lack experience in [cash-flow planning / market analysis / pricing / tax basics]. A 96-unit coaching closes these gaps systematically." Case workers respond positively to self-reflection.
5. Economic comparison — Professional founder consulting on the open market costs €1,500 – €5,000. AVGS makes it free. "This investment in my successful self-employment is, via AVGS, economically cheaper than every additional month of unemployment benefit."

We help you tailor these arguments to your personal case — free of charge in the initial call, even before you go to the agency.

12. AVGS Coaching vs. Startup Grant — what is the difference?

Both instruments come from SGB III and are often confused. In fact, they complement each other and can be used one after the other. Here are the key differences at a glance:

The strategically best sequence: First use AVGS coaching to create business plan + financial plan + viability certificate. Then apply for the startup grant with that certificate. This way you are well prepared content-wise and financially secured for the first months — both funded by the state.

13. Working with Business Start EU — step by step

This is what a typical collaboration looks like — from the first inquiry to a successfully completed coaching:

1. Free initial call (30 min, by phone or video): We check whether you meet the AVGS eligibility criteria, clarify your founding project, and agree on the line of argument for the case worker.
2. Application preparation: You receive a ready-made AVGS application template and a written justification of need, which you submit to your personal case worker.
3. Meeting with the case worker: Armed with the prepared justification you go to the meeting. In our experience, with good preparation the voucher is issued within 1–2 weeks.
4. Forward the voucher to us: As soon as you have received the AVGS voucher, send us a copy (by email, WhatsApp or postal mail). We forward all further documents to your responsible agency via our partner provider Starthilfe Bildungswerk GmbH.
5. Approval & start of coaching: After approval we start the coaching within 1–2 weeks. Content and schedule are aligned with your specific founding date.
6. Coaching delivery (approx. 6 weeks, 96 units): 12 modules, on-site or online. Concrete outputs: business plan, financial plan (5 years), market and competition analysis, pricing, viability certificate.
7. Viability certificate: On request we issue at the end of the coaching the expert statement you need for the Startup Grant application.
8. Follow-up support: Even after the coaching ends you can reach us with follow-up questions — e.g. for your bank meeting or when registering your self-employment.

Get started directly: Book a free initial call or write to us via WhatsApp. We reply within 24 hours.