BAFA business consulting with Claudia Franke: Up to €2,800 in funding for your company
Would you like to strengthen your company’s finances, improve its processes or plan its next stage of development? I am Claudia Franke, owner of Coaching by Claudia and a consultant registered with BAFA. I support small and medium-sized businesses with practical management questions.
Under certain conditions, you may receive a grant for consulting with me through BAFA’s programme to promote business consulting for SMEs. For an establishment in Saxony-Anhalt, funding currently covers up to 80% of eligible consulting costs, with a maximum grant of €2,800 per consultation.
By Claudia Franke · Coaching by Claudia
Status: October 2026
How I support you as a business consultant
Every business starts from a different position. That is why my consulting begins with your specific questions. What already works well? Where are the difficulties? Which changes should pay off financially?
Together, we examine your business and develop clear, practical recommendations. Topics may include:
Strategy and business model
Positioning, your range of services or products, new business areas and further development.
Financial viability and planning
Cost structures, cash flow planning, management control and sound decisions.
Organisation and processes
Workflows, responsibilities, quality management and digitalisation.
Staff and leadership
Dividing tasks, retaining employees and developing your management structure.
BAFA funding is for individual, concept-based business consulting. General training alone does not qualify. The analysis, findings and recommendations are documented in a written consulting report.
What my BAFA registration means for you
I am registered as a BAFA consultant under Claudia Franke and Coaching by Claudia. You may choose me for consulting under this funding programme.
My registration does not replace the assessment of your application. Your company and the proposed consulting project are checked during the application process. BAFA decides whether to approve and pay the grant.
In our first conversation, we therefore discuss your starting position, consulting goals and the conditions relevant to your plans.
How much funding might you receive?
For an establishment in Saxony-Anhalt, the grant can cover up to 80% of eligible consulting costs. The calculation is capped at €3,500 per consultation, resulting in a maximum grant of €2,800.
The relevant location is that of the establishment receiving the consulting. Your private residence alone does not determine the funding rate.
An example calculation
For eligible net consulting costs of €3,500, the possible grant is €2,800. The company then bears €700 of the net costs.
VAT and upfront payment
If 19% VAT is added, the full invoice initially payable is €4,165. BAFA does not subsidise VAT. Whether your company can deduct it as input tax depends on its tax position.
The grant is not an immediate discount on the invoice. You pay the full amount first; payment of the grant follows a review of the required evidence. Consulting costs above €3,500 do not increase the maximum grant.
Which companies may qualify?
The programme is intended for legally independent SMEs based and operating in Germany. Members of the liberal professions may also be eligible in principle.
The EU definition of an SME considers, among other things, employee numbers, annual turnover or balance sheet total, and links to other companies. A business idea without an existing company is not enough for this programme.
Certain companies and consulting topics are excluded. Examples include companies in insolvency proceedings and businesses whose own purpose is business consulting or comparable advice.
Consulting that is mainly legal, tax or insurance advice is outside this funding programme. Together we can discuss whether your question fits an eligible business consulting project.
A company may receive funding for up to two consultations per year and five in total during the current funding directive. There is no legal entitlement to a grant.
How BAFA funded consulting with me works
Clarify your consulting needs with me
Tell me about your business situation and goals. As a registered BAFA consultant, I will discuss which questions we can address and which results you want to achieve.
Submit the funding application before we begin
Your company applies through the BAFA application portal and names me as the selected consultant. The application must be submitted before the eligible consultation starts.
Wait for the information letter
After review, you receive an information letter from the responsible intermediary. The eligible consultation may begin only after you have received it.
Signing a binding consulting agreement too early may also count as an early start. We therefore plan the order of steps carefully. The information letter is not yet a binding funding commitment.
Work together on your business goals
I analyse your starting position with you and develop practical recommendations. Our findings are recorded in the consulting report, giving you a basis for the next steps in your company.
Pay the invoice in full
Your company pays the entire invoice, including any applicable VAT, using a non-cash payment method. Keep the invoice and bank statement. Cash payments and offsets are not accepted as proof of payment.
Submit your evidence on time
Complete documents must be submitted through the responsible intermediary no later than six months after receiving the information letter.
These include the consulting report, invoice, proof of payment and required declarations, including SME and de minimis information. I prepare the written report as part of our work together. Once the documents are checked, the grant may be paid to your company.
BAFA consulting or AVGS coaching?
At Coaching by Claudia, I offer both business consulting and coaching. They follow different funding routes.
BAFA funding is for an existing company and covers part of the eligible consulting costs. AVGS coaching has different requirements and needs a suitably approved voucher.
If you are unsure which route suits your situation, we can discuss it in an initial conversation.
Would you like to develop your business with me?
I am Claudia Franke, a registered BAFA consultant and owner of Coaching by Claudia. Together we can clarify your questions and the next steps for your company.
Contact me and briefly describe your plans.
Note: this information reflects the position in October 2026. The current funding directive applies to applications submitted by 31 December 2026. The current BAFA documents and assessment of your application are decisive. Funding cannot be guaranteed. Sources: BAFA business consulting, funding directive and the BAFA application portal.