Table of contents
Official BA form: Qualified expert statement
The official form of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency) for the qualified expert statement (the basis of your Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung) — free download, no registration required.
1. What is a Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung?
The Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung (also: qualified expert statement, in German "fachkundige Stellungnahme") is a mandatory document for the Gründungszuschuss (startup grant) under § 93 para. 2 SGB III. It confirms that your business venture is economically viable.
What the certificate covers
- Assessment of the economic viability of your venture
- Review of the market analysis and competitive situation
- Evaluation of the financial plan (revenue forecast, liquidity, profitability)
- Assessment of your professional qualifications
- Statement on the likelihood of success
Who may issue it?
Under § 93 SGB III, the following are recognised as qualified expert bodies (fachkundige Stellen):
- Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
- Chambers of Crafts (Handwerkskammer / HWK)
- Tax advisors (Steuerberater)
- BAFA-listed business consultants
- Professional associations and credit institutions
Important to know
A Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung is not a guarantee of approval — the Agentur für Arbeit makes the final decision. However, it is a mandatory prerequisite and one of the most important documents in the application process.
2. Who in Heidelberg may issue it?
| Qualified expert body | Address / contact | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| IHK Rhein-Neckar, Heidelberg (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) | Hans-Böckler-Straße 4, 69115 Heidelberg Tel: 06221 9017-0 | 4-6 weeks |
| Handwerkskammer Mannheim (Chamber of Crafts) | B1, 1-2, 68159 Mannheim Tel: 0621 18002-0 | 3-5 weeks |
| Tax advisors in Heidelberg | Varies by firm | 2-4 weeks |
| Business Start EU (us) | Rudolf-Diesel-Str. 11, Heidelberg BAFA No. 205985 | within seven days |
Why a BAFA-listed consultant is faster
We specialise in start-up viability assessments. While IHK and banks often have lead times of several weeks, we deliver the result within seven days of receiving your complete documents. As a Heidelberg-based firm, we also know the local requirements of the Agentur für Arbeit.
3. How does the process work?
1. Initial contact
Free intro call (15 min)We discuss your venture and clarify whether your business plan is complete.
2. Document handover
Day 1You send us: business plan, financial plan, CV, proof of qualifications.
3. Review
Within seven daysWe assess the viability of your venture against the Agentur für Arbeit's criteria.
4. Follow-up meeting
If neededIf anything is unclear, we resolve it with you — in person in Heidelberg or online.
5. Issuance
After completionIf viability is confirmed, you receive the written Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung including the BAFA consultant ID. The invoice for €299 net follows afterwards — no prepayment.
4. What is reviewed in the certificate?
- Viability: liquidity, profitability, market potential
- Founder's qualifications: professional fit, industry experience
- Plausibility of assumptions: revenue forecast, cost structure
- Risk assessment: SWOT analysis, mitigation measures
- Likelihood of success: overall assessment of the venture
Our quality standard
We review rigorously because our name is on every certificate we issue. If the plan does not hold up, we say so honestly — and rework it with you before we certify. Over 200 business plans, zero rejections due to quality issues.
5. What the Agentur für Arbeit Heidelberg expects
The Agentur für Arbeit Heidelberg (Kaiserstraße 69-71, 69115 Heidelberg) expects:
- A complete business plan with financial plan
- A qualified expert statement from a recognised body
- Proof of professional qualifications
- CV and certificates
6. Costs and funding
Our price is fixed: €299 net if viability is confirmed. It covers the review of your documents and the preparation of the certificate (BA form BA GZ 04) for the Agentur für Arbeit. You receive the invoice only after delivery — no prepayment.
What if your venture is not yet viable?
Then we do not issue a certificate and do not charge for one. Instead, we look at the AVGS route together: AVGS start-up coaching systematically fills the gaps in your business plan and is 100% funded under § 45 SGB III. It requires an activation and placement voucher (AVGS) from your Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter (ALG I or Bürgergeld).
Two clear cases
Viable: certificate for €299 net, invoiced after delivery.
Not yet viable: AVGS start-up coaching instead of a certificate — €0 for you, because AVGS is 100% funded.
7. Common pitfalls with the Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung
- Overly optimistic revenue forecasts: not credible without supporting evidence
- Missing market analysis: competitors not considered
- Weak financial plan rationale: numbers without derivation
- Unclear qualifications: no link to the founding sector
- Superficial review: low-cost providers without real analysis
Our advice
Don't cut corners here. A weak Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung leads to rejection — and costs you the Gründungszuschuss (startup grant) of up to 24,000 euros.
8. Why Business Start EU?
- Tobias Späth has been BAFA-listed since 2019 (No. 205985)
- 200+ business plans successfully delivered — none rejected for quality reasons
- Based in Heidelberg — in-person appointments available, online consulting nationwide
- Result within seven days — faster than IHK (often 4-6 weeks)
- 55+ million euros in funding secured for our clients