Table of contents
1. When do you need a business plan?
A professional business plan is essential for:
- Bank financing: Loans, credit lines, overdraft facilities
- Gründungszuschuss (startup grant): Application with the Agentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency) Heidelberg
- Einstiegsgeld (start-up allowance): Application with the Jobcenter Heidelberg
- BAFA funding: Reimbursement of consulting costs
- Investors: Business angels, venture capital
- Franchise: Partner application
2. What belongs in a professional business plan?
- Executive summary: One-page overview
- Founder profile: Qualifications and experience
- Business idea: Product/service, unique selling point
- Market & competition: Target audience, competitor analysis, positioning
- Marketing & sales: Customer acquisition, pricing
- Organisation: Legal form, location, staffing
- Financial plan: Capital requirements, revenue forecast, liquidity planning
- Risk analysis: SWOT, mitigation measures
Heidelberg: a life-sciences hub
As Germany's second-largest life-sciences location, Heidelberg offers exceptional opportunities for start-ups in biotech, medtech and healthcare. We know the local requirements and funding programmes.
3. What does the bank check?
Banks in Heidelberg (Sparkasse, Volksbank, etc.) assess the following when granting loans:
| Criterion | What the bank wants to see |
|---|---|
| Creditworthiness | SCHUFA credit report, equity, collateral |
| Viability | Realistic revenue forecast, positive liquidity |
| Qualifications | Professional suitability, industry experience |
| Market | Demand, competition, positioning |
| Financial plan | Capital requirements, use of funds, repayment |
4. BAFA funding for your business plan
BAFA (the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control) subsidises consulting for prospective founders:
- Funding rate: Up to 50% of consulting costs
- Cap: 1,750 euros subsidy (for 3,500 euros in consulting costs)
- Requirement: A BAFA-listed consultant (we are listed under ID 186617)
- Region: Baden-Württemberg (eastern German states: up to 80%)
Combine your funding
With AVGS plus BAFA, you can receive coaching and a business plan at virtually no cost. We will advise you on the optimal combination.
5. Our business plan packages
Silver
€1,490 net, plus VAT- Business plan (20–30 pages)
- Financial plan (3 years)
- 1 round of revisions
- PDF + Word file
- BAFA-eligible
Gold
€2,490 net, plus VAT- Business plan (30–50 pages)
- Financial plan (5 years)
- Market analysis included
- 2 rounds of revisions
- Preparation for the bank meeting
- BAFA-eligible
Platinum
€3,490 net, plus VAT- Business plan (50+ pages)
- Financial plan (5 years)
- Detailed market analysis
- Unlimited revisions
- Attendance at the bank meeting
- Viability certificate (Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung)
- BAFA-eligible
6. How we work together
- Free initial consultation: We discuss your project and agree on the scope — in person in Heidelberg or online
- Information gathering: You provide us with the core data (questionnaire, documents)
- Drafting: We prepare your business plan including the financial plan
- Review: Joint walk-through and revision rounds
- Delivery: You receive the finished business plan (PDF + Word)
- Bank meeting: Optionally, we attend the bank meeting with you
7. Banks in Heidelberg for your start-up financing
| Bank | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Sparkasse Heidelberg | ERP start-up loan, L-Bank funding programmes, co-sponsor of the regional founders' award |
| Volksbank Heidelberg-Neckartal | Start-up financing with KfW, part of the Gründerallianz network |
| L-Bank | State development bank of Baden-Württemberg, Start-up BW Pre-Seed, Starthilfe BW |
Our edge in Heidelberg
As a BAFA-listed consultant (ID 186617) based in Heidelberg, we know the local banks and their requirements. More than 200 business plans, over 55 million euros in financing volume, zero rejections for quality reasons.