FINANCING NEW VENTURES AND COMPANY DEVELOPMENT
Grants for starting and developing a business
Are you planning your own business or investing in an existing company? We help you determine, which sources of financing are worth considering, what conditions must be met, and how to prepare a project for the call. We review both non-repayable grants and preferential repayable instruments.
FREE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS
Financing Directions Test
Select answers to see possible sources for further verification.
STARTING POINT
First, let's establish what stage you are at
A start-up grant and support for the development of an existing business are not the same instruments. They differ in terms of eligibility, documentation, method of disbursement, and post-contract obligations.
Do you want to start a business?
First, we determine the status of the person applying for assistance, the place of planned activity and whether the company can already be registered.
- PUP: one-off funds for eligible persons, in accordance with the rules of the relevant office.
- LGD / LEADER: support for undertaking non-agricultural activities in the area of a given local strategy.
- BGK: preferential loan for self-employment for groups specified in the program regulations.
- ESF+ and regional programmes: selected forms of activation and support for entrepreneurship.
Is your company already operational?
We check whether the investment aligns with the call objectives, whether the company meets the access requirements, and whether the planned financing model is realistic.
- Regional programs: investments and business development in line with the voivodeship's priorities.
- National programs: including specific innovative, digital and environmental projects.
- Return instruments: development loans or other preferential forms of financing.
- LGD: developing the business within the framework of an appropriate local strategy, if the call for proposals provides for it.
POSSIBLE SOURCES
Four groups of instruments worth checking out
Poniższe instrumenty przedstawiają przykładowe możliwości finansowania projektów. Dostępność poszczególnych form wsparcia oraz warunki ubiegania się o dofinansowanie zależą od lokalizacji projektu, statusu wnioskodawcy, zakresu planowanego przedsięwzięcia oraz harmonogramu naborów.
One-off funds from the Public Employment Agency
A solution for individuals belonging to eligible groups. Applicant status, local policies, spending plan, security, and budget availability are all factors.
LGD / LEADER
For projects aligned with the local development strategy. Support may be provided for business start-ups or expansion; location and operational profile are important.
BGK self-employment loan
An alternative for some people starting a business. It is repayable financing on preferential terms; the regulations specify the terms and conditions and the possible redemption of a portion of the capital.
European funds and development loans
Regional and national programs finance selected types of projects. Not every competition involves simply purchasing equipment—often, the specific impact of the investment is important.
Dobór odpowiedniego źródła finansowania wymaga indywidualnej analizy projektu. Kluczowe znaczenie mają warunki konkretnego programu, kryteria kwalifikowalności wnioskodawcy i przedsięwzięcia oraz dostępność środków. Należy również rozróżnić dotacje bezzwrotne od instrumentów zwrotnych, takich jak pożyczki preferencyjne, oraz zweryfikować aktualny status naboru wniosków.
EXPENDITURE RANGE
What can be financed with a grant or loan?
The list of eligible costs may differ even between calls for proposals with similar themes. Therefore, it's not advisable to construct a budget based solely on examples found online.
Equipment and fixed assets
Machinery, equipment, workstation equipment and other assets necessary to implement the project.
Digitalization of processes
Software, IT systems, automation and technologies permitted in a given instrument.
Infrastructure and energy
Modernisation of facilities, energy efficiency or renewable energy sources – only to the extent provided.
Product and service development
Uruchomienie nowej oferty, wdrażanie innowacji oraz inne wydatki zgodne z celami programu.
Kluczowe znaczenie ma prawidłowa ocena kwalifikowalności wydatków. Nie każdy koszt uzasadniony potrzebami przedsiębiorstwa może zostać objęty dofinansowaniem. Analiza obejmuje w szczególności możliwość kwalifikowania podatku VAT, katalog kosztów kwalifikowalnych i niekwalifikowalnych, sposób finansowania, termin poniesienia wydatków oraz obowiązujące procedury zakupowe.
ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBILITIES
Six areas we verify before choosing a program
Rzetelna analiza możliwości uzyskania dofinansowania obejmuje ocenę zgodności projektu z wymaganiami programu, kwalifikowalności wnioskodawcy oraz jego zdolności do realizacji przedsięwzięcia i wypełnienia zobowiązań wynikających z otrzymanego wsparcia.
Status and history of activity
Does the company already exist? What is the applicant's status, legal form, length of service, and any connections with other entities?
Location of the project
The voivodeship, district, commune and the area of operation of the LGD may determine the available instruments.
Purpose and result of the investment
Not only are expenses assessed, but also what changes, results and benefits the project is expected to bring.
Budget and sources of financing
Own contribution, financing of expenses before reimbursement, borrowing capacity and costs outside the grant are important.
Date and commencement of work
In some programs, starting a project before submitting an application or before the required deadline may preclude support.
Obligations after funds are awarded
Durability, metrics, business conduct, purchasing practices, archiving and return risk are all part of the decision.
Important before starting the project: przed złożeniem wiążących zamówień lub rozpoczęciem prac należy zweryfikować warunki programu, w szczególności wymogi dotyczące efektu zachęty oraz dopuszczalnego terminu rozpoczęcia realizacji inwestycji.
REALISTIC PLANNING
What if there is currently no suitable call for proposals?
Brak aktualnie otwartego naboru nie wyklucza możliwości uzyskania dofinansowania w przyszłości. W takiej sytuacji warto rozważyć dostosowanie harmonogramu projektu, alternatywne źródła finansowania lub przesunięcie terminu realizacji inwestycji. Kluczowe jest wybranie rozwiązania najlepiej odpowiadającego potrzebom i możliwościom wnioskodawcy.
Option 1. Preparation for the next call for proposals
If the instrument fits the project but the call for proposals is not ongoing, you can organize the assumptions, cost estimate and documents and then monitor the schedule.
Option 2. Another financial instrument
If a grant is inadequate, we consider a soft loan, blended financing, or a change in investment scope – without implying that every solution will be available.
Option 3. Correction of the concept
Sometimes changes to location, scope, schedule, or business model are necessary. We determine these before significant costs are incurred.
Projekt powinien przede wszystkim odpowiadać rzeczywistym potrzebom i celom biznesowym wnioskodawcy. Dofinansowanie należy traktować jako instrument wspierający realizację przedsięwzięcia, a nie czynnik determinujący jego zakres i założenia.
VALUE OF CONSULTATION
What will you receive after analyzing financing options?
Celem konsultacji jest identyfikacja najbardziej odpowiednich możliwości finansowania, wskazanie informacji wymagających uzupełnienia oraz przedstawienie konkretnych rekomendacji ułatwiających podjęcie dalszych decyzji dotyczących projektu.
Conclusions and recommendations
- Starting point assessment: the most important conditions regarding you and the project.
- List of courses: programs and instruments requiring further verification.
- Risks: formal, financial and time-related obstacles.
- Plan for next steps: materials and decisions needed before submitting an application.
Prepare for your first interview
- Place of implementation: voivodeship, district and commune.
- Information whether the business is already registered.
- A brief description of the investment and its expected result.
- Approximate project value and available financing.
- Planned start date of work and possible link to the call procedure.
DOTACJE ONLINE
Doradztwo w zakresie funduszy europejskich,
TRANSPARENT RULES
How does the cooperation work?
01
You are describing the project
You send basic information about the project, its location, budget and preparation stage.
02
We establish the scope
We explain what data needs to be checked, determine the form of cooperation, scope and cost of the analysis.
03
We verify the conditions
We compare the assumptions with the requirements of selected instruments, distinguishing between formal and qualitative criteria.
04
We indicate the next steps
We discuss the recommendations and, if it makes sense, separately determine the scope of application preparation.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
What is worth knowing before applying for financing?
Can anyone starting a business receive a grant?
No. Funds from the Public Employment Agency (PUP), Local Government Groups (LGD), regional programs, and BGK loans are available to various groups of eligible individuals. Status, location, business history, application requirements, and budget are all factors. Before registering your company, check the requirements of your chosen instrument.
Can I still apply for a startup grant after registering my company?
It depends on the program. Some instruments are intended for those just starting a business after meeting certain criteria. An existing company may be better served by development, investment, or repayable financing programs.
What is the difference between a PUP grant and a BGK self-employment loan?
Funding from the Public Employment Agency (PUP) is non-repayable, provided the agreement is met. The BGK loan is generally repaid on preferential terms; partial forgiveness may be possible upon meeting specific requirements. Both solutions have separate eligibility criteria.
Do I need my own contribution to receive support?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The contribution and intensity of support vary by program. Even with high funding, ineligible costs, the method of disbursement, and expenses incurred before reimbursement must be considered.
Can I order machinery or start construction before submitting an application?
Before making any binding commitments, it's important to check the terms of the specific instrument, including the start date and the required incentive effect. In many programs, early project initiation can preclude assistance.
Does the free test show currently open applications?
No. The test provides indicative funding directions; it does not automatically verify current funding availability or eligibility. Current and planned applications can be viewed at Mapa Dotacji, and the conditions must be confirmed in the institution's documentation.
Does a consultation guarantee the award of a grant?
No. The decision is made by the financing institution in accordance with the application process. The consultation serves to assess the possibilities, limitations, and next steps; the application itself is a separate stage of the collaboration.
ASK ABOUT POSSIBILITIES
Start by checking the right direction of financing
Opisz planowane przedsięwzięcie, lokalizację inwestycji oraz aktualny status prowadzonej działalności. Na tej podstawie przeanalizujemy potencjalne źródła dofinansowania i wskażemy rekomendowane dalsze działania.