Table of contents
- 1. What is Einstiegsgeld?
- 2. Requirements for Einstiegsgeld in Frankfurt am Main
- 3. How much and for how long?
- 4. The Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main and how it works in practice
- 5. Additional funding: investment cost subsidy
- 6. Step by step to your application
- 7. Common pitfalls in Frankfurt am Main
- 8. How we support you
Are you receiving Bürgergeld (German basic welfare benefit since 2023, formerly ALG II) and want to start your own business in Frankfurt am Main? Einstiegsgeld (German start-up allowance for Bürgergeld recipients, up to 24 months) under § 16b SGB II is your central funding source — paid on top of your Bürgergeld, for up to 24 months, and combinable with an investment cost subsidy. The Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main, the joint institution of the City of Frankfurt and the Agentur für Arbeit Frankfurt am Main and responsible for all Bürgergeld recipients in the city, offers this benefit to founders coming out of the benefit system — and it runs additional branch offices across the city's districts.
Frankfurt am Main is Germany's fifth-largest city, home to around 760,000 inhabitants, and the country's number-one financial centre — the European Central Bank, the Deutsche Bundesbank and almost every major bank are based here, at the heart of the Rhine-Main region. Around the TechQuartier (Hesse's largest start-up hub, in the ECB quarter), the Goethe-Universität with its Goethe Unibator, and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences with its Institute for Entrepreneurship, one of Hesse's most active founder scenes has grown. Many businesses started from Bürgergeld here are in financial services, fintech and knowledge-intensive services. The Einstiegsgeld carries you through the start-up phase — and WIBank (Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen) adds its own state programmes on top (see section 5).
1. What is Einstiegsgeld?
Einstiegsgeld (§ 16b SGB II) is a Jobcenter (German welfare/job placement office) subsidy for Bürgergeld recipients who want to become self-employed on a full-time basis. Unlike the Gründungszuschuss (which is for ALG-I recipients), Einstiegsgeld is paid on top of your Bürgergeld — your Bürgergeld keeps running in parallel.
Important — Einstiegsgeld vs. Gründungszuschuss
| Feature | Einstiegsgeld | Gründungszuschuss |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | § 16b SGB II | § 93 SGB III |
| Target group | Bürgergeld recipients | ALG-I recipients |
| Responsible in Frankfurt am Main | Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main | Agentur für Arbeit Frankfurt am Main (German Federal Employment Agency) |
| Funding duration | Up to 24 months | Up to 15 months |
| Notable feature | + investment subsidy possible | Higher monthly amounts |
2. Requirements for Einstiegsgeld in Frankfurt am Main
- Bürgergeld status: You currently receive Bürgergeld (SGB II, formerly ALG II / Hartz IV)
- Viable business idea: Your venture must be economically viable
- Full-time self-employment: The self-employment should contribute to your livelihood
- Ending dependency on benefits: The goal must be to overcome your need for welfare support through self-employment
Discretionary benefit — no legal entitlement
Einstiegsgeld is a discretionary benefit. The Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main decides on a case-by-case basis. A convincing business plan and professional preparation are critical to a positive decision.
3. How much and for how long?
The amount of Einstiegsgeld is based on your Bürgergeld standard rate. Typically you can expect 50–75 % of the standard rate as a subsidy.
Example calculation for Frankfurt am Main
Standard rate (Bürgergeld): EUR 563/month (single person, 2026)
+ Einstiegsgeld: ~EUR 300–430/month
Funding duration: up to 24 months
+ Investitionskostenzuschuss: up to EUR 5,000 (one-off)
= Double security during your start-up phase
Important: Unlike the Gründungszuschuss, you continue to receive your Bürgergeld during the start-up phase — the Einstiegsgeld is paid on top.
4. The Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main and how it works in practice
Frankfurt am Main is an independent city (kreisfreie Stadt), so for Bürgergeld recipients living in the city itself only the Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main is responsible — the joint institution of the City of Frankfurt and the Agentur für Arbeit Frankfurt am Main. For the surrounding districts (Main-Taunus-Kreis, Hochtaunuskreis) separate Jobcenters are responsible — the Jobcenter Main-Taunus-Kreis in Hofheim and the Jobcenter Hochtaunuskreis in Bad Homburg — so the authority is not the same when you move house.
| Contact point | Address & contact | Area of responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main | Mainzer Landstraße 183, 60327 Frankfurt am Main ServiceCenter 069 2171-2222 (nationwide hotline 0800 4 5555 00) |
Einstiegsgeld, AVGS (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein — German Activation and Mediation Voucher) for Bürgergeld recipients, § 16c investment subsidy |
| Agentur für Arbeit Frankfurt am Main | Fischerfeldstraße 10-12, 60311 Frankfurt am Main Tel. 0800 4 5555 00 (free) |
Gründungszuschuss, AVGS for ALG-I recipients |
| IHK Frankfurt am Main (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) | Frankfurt am Main | Expert opinion (fachkundige Stellungnahme) for Gründungszuschuss and Einstiegsgeld |
Good to know about the Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main
The Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main is a joint institution (gemeinsame Einrichtung) of the City of Frankfurt and the Agentur für Arbeit Frankfurt am Main, with additional branch offices across the city's districts — its main office is at Mainzer Landstraße 183, 60327 Frankfurt am Main (website: jobcenter-frankfurt-am-main.de).
For the surrounding districts the separate Jobcenter Main-Taunus-Kreis (Hofheim) and Jobcenter Hochtaunuskreis (Bad Homburg) are responsible, not the Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main.
5. Additional funding: Investitionskostenzuschuss § 16c SGB II
On top of the monthly Einstiegsgeld, you can apply for an Investitionskostenzuschuss (investment cost subsidy under § 16c SGB II) — for things you need to acquire for your self-employment.
- Up to EUR 5,000 as a grant or loan (not always repayable)
- For physical items such as machinery, tools, office equipment and IT
- Vehicles, where they are necessary for the business
- Initial stock / inventory
- Proof of necessity required
Our tip for Frankfurt founders
Apply for Einstiegsgeld and the investment cost subsidy together at the Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main. In the business plan we list your capital requirement — that is the foundation for the investment subsidy. For larger investments beyond the EUR 5,000, it is also worth looking at WIBank (Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen), the development bank of the State of Hesse — for example the Hessen-Mikrodarlehen (a loan of up to EUR 35,000 without going through a bank, backed by a state guarantee — ideal for small ventures without equity), the Gründungs- und Mittelstandsförderprogramm Hessen (a low-interest investment loan for small and medium-sized enterprises), or the nationwide KfW-StartGeld of up to EUR 125,000 via your bank (in Frankfurt, for instance the Frankfurter Sparkasse or Frankfurter Volksbank).
6. Step by step to your application
Step 1: Apply for an AVGS
Weeks 1–3First, apply for an AVGS for founder coaching at the Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main — 100 % free of charge. The coaching is the ideal preparation for your Einstiegsgeld application.
Step 2: Complete the coaching
Weeks 3–10In the AVGS coaching we develop your business model, financial plan and business plan together — online, flexible, with no need to travel to a Frankfurt office.
Step 3: Obtain the expert opinion (fachkundige Stellungnahme)
Weeks 10–11The IHK Frankfurt am Main or the responsible Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Skilled Crafts) confirms the viability of your venture.
Step 4: Apply for Einstiegsgeld + investment subsidy
Weeks 11–12Submit your complete file to the Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main (Mainzer Landstraße 183) — before you register your business.
Step 5: Launch your business
After approvalOnce approved: register your business (Gewerbe) and get started. The Einstiegsgeld starts running from the moment of incorporation.
7. Common pitfalls in Frankfurt am Main
- Applying too late: The application must be filed before you register your business
- Wrong Jobcenter: The city of Frankfurt am Main → Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main; the surrounding districts (Main-Taunus-Kreis, Hochtaunuskreis) → Jobcenter Main-Taunus-Kreis (Hofheim) / Jobcenter Hochtaunuskreis (Bad Homburg). Mix-ups cost time.
- Weak business plan: Without a convincing viability case, no approval
- Missing expert opinion: The Jobcenter requires an external confirmation (IHK Frankfurt am Main, the Handwerkskammer or a BAFA-listed consultant — BAFA: Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control)
- Unrealistic outlook: If the Jobcenter doubts that you can actually overcome your need for welfare support
8. How we support you
Business Start EU (BAFA no. 205985) supports Bürgergeld recipients in Frankfurt am Main on the path to self-employment — from the first idea to a successful launch. We don't have a physical office in Frankfurt, but we work with you fully online: video consultations, business plan drafting, application preparation.
Our approach for Bürgergeld recipients in Frankfurt am Main
- Free intro call: We clarify your situation and the funding options available to you
- AVGS support: We help with the AVGS application at the Jobcenter Frankfurt am Main
- Coaching: Professional online support from our BAFA-listed coaches
- Business plan: Bank-ready plan for the Jobcenter and the qualified expert body
- Application support: Optimal application for Einstiegsgeld + investment subsidy
The optimal combination for Frankfurt am Main
AVGS coaching (free) → Einstiegsgeld + investment subsidy § 16c → BAFA post-launch consultancy (50 % funded)
This maximises your funding and gives you professional support from day one — whether you're in financial services, the skilled crafts or the growing tech scene around the TechQuartier in Frankfurt.