Guide for Non-EU Citizens
English guide for starting a business in Germany as a non-EU citizen — visa requirements, residence permits, and step-by-step process.
Table of Contents
- 1. Why do you need a business plan?
- 2. What goes into a business plan?
- 3. Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung (German viability assessment) in Hamburg
- 4. IFB Hamburg (Hamburg Investment and Development Bank) — funding programmes
- 5. What does a professional business plan cost?
- 6. Our process — ready in 14 days
1. Why do you need a business plan?
A professional business plan is your entry ticket — to the bank, to funding programmes, to the Agentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). In Hamburg it is especially important for:
- Gründungszuschuss (German founder grant for ALG-I recipients): Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung (German viability assessment) issued by the Handelskammer Hamburg (Hamburg Chamber of Commerce)
- IFB development loans: Hamburg-Kredit Gründung und Nachfolge, InnoRampUp
- Bank financing: KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau — German state-owned development bank) StartGeld, ERP capital, classic house-bank loans
- Investors: business angels, venture capital, crowdfunding
2. What goes into a business plan?
| Chapter | Content |
|---|---|
| Executive summary | One to two-page overview of the entire plan |
| Founder profile | Qualifications, experience, motivation |
| Business idea | Product/service, unique selling proposition, customer benefit |
| Market analysis | Target group, competition, Hamburg market potential |
| Marketing | Positioning, sales channels, pricing strategy |
| Organisation | Legal form, location, staffing |
| Financial plan | Three-year forecast, capital requirements, liquidity |
3. Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung (German viability assessment) in Hamburg
Handelskammer Hamburg (Hamburg Chamber of Commerce — not called IHK here!)
Address: Adolphsplatz 1, 20457 Hamburg
Service line: 040 36138-138
Online: hk24.de
The Handelskammer Hamburg reviews your business plan and issues the Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung — required to apply for the Gründungszuschuss.
Hamburg specifics
In Hamburg the chamber of commerce is called Handelskammer, not IHK. Despite the different name, it is the official chamber of industry and commerce for Hamburg and issues every certificate required for the Gründungszuschuss and related funding.
4. IFB Hamburg (Hamburg Investment and Development Bank) — funding programmes
The Hamburgische Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB) offers attractive programmes for founders:
| Programme | Details |
|---|---|
| Hamburg-Kredit Gründung und Nachfolge | Up to €1 million, via your Hausbank, for investments and working capital |
| InnoRampUp | Up to €150,000 for innovative start-ups, as a non-repayable grant |
Your business plan for IFB applications
We know the requirements of IFB Hamburg and write your business plan to meet every criterion — for the Hamburg-Kredit or InnoRampUp.
5. What does a professional business plan cost?
As BAFA-listed advisors (BAFA (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle — Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control) consultant ID 205985), we offer subsidised consulting for companies after founding:
- BAFA grant: in Hamburg, the consulting can be subsidised by up to 50 % on consulting fees of up to €3,500 (grant max. €1,750) — only for companies already active on the market; no legal entitlement to the subsidy exists
- AVGS (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein — German Activation and Mediation Voucher) coaching: 100 % free of charge for ALG-I and Bürgergeld recipients
6. Our process — ready in 14 days
Kick-off call & briefing
Free of charge: we get to know your venture and clarify your financing goals.
Written sections & market analysis
Business model, target-group analysis, Hamburg competitive analysis.
Financial planning
Three-year plan with revenue, costs, liquidity and capital requirements.
Final polish & handover
Final edits — ready for the Handelskammer and your bank.
What our clients say
Thanks again for the great work, we are very satisfied.
Everything was excellent. Professional advice and fast execution.