BAFA business consulting: when it fits a website strategy

01What does the BAFA consulting programme fund?

The programme supports German SMEs and self-employed professionals with economic, financial, staffing and organisational questions. The work must be individual, analyse weaknesses and produce concrete recommendations in a written report. Generic training or the sale of a standard service is not enough.

A website-related project can fit when it answers a business question: which target groups matter, which services deserve priority, how leads move from search or advertising to an enquiry, and how follow-up should work internally. The website is then part of the sales and organisational strategy rather than the sole funded product.

The current directive runs until 31 December 2026. A new directive with revised maximum eligible costs applies to applications from 1 January 2027. Sources: BAFA and German federal funding directives dated 21 December 2022 and 29 October 2026, accessed 13 November 2026.

02How much BAFA funding is available?

For applications submitted by 31 December 2026, up to €3,500 net of consulting fees can be recognised. Depending on the business location, the grant rate is 50 or 80 per cent, producing a maximum grant of €1,750 or €2,800. VAT is not eligible.

From 1 January 2027, the new directive raises the eligible ceiling to €4,000 net. The resulting maximum grants are €2,000 at 50 per cent and €3,200 at 80 per cent. Check the current BAFA information before applying because the date, region and individual case determine the amount. Sources: BAFA directives, status 13 November 2026.

These are maximum values, not guaranteed payments. The company normally pays the full invoice first and proves cashless payment. The grant follows only after the final documents have been checked.

03Which website consultancy can qualify?

A defined strategy assignment may qualify: target-group and competitor analysis, economic prioritisation of services, the design of a digital enquiry process, channel selection and an actionable roadmap. The report should connect the starting position, causes, recommendations, priorities and responsibilities.

A contract mainly covering web design, coding, hosting, SEO execution or advertising management is not the same as business consulting. Legal, tax and expert-opinion work is also excluded under the directive. Consulting and later implementation therefore need separate scopes, contracts and invoices.

A useful deliverable might be a specification covering audiences, site structure, messages, enquiry routes, required functions, metrics and a 90-day plan. Implementation can then be tendered separately. Our managed website subscription from €79 per month would be such a separate service, not a BAFA-funded consulting fee.

• Document the business objective
• Analyse audiences, services and competition
• Plan the customer journey and enquiry process
• Prioritise site structure and functions
• Define metrics, budget and owners
• Separate implementation from consulting

04What must the company and consultant provide?

Eligible applicants are legally independent SMEs and self-employed professionals with a German establishment. The EU SME definition generally requires fewer than 250 employees and no more than €50 million turnover or €43 million balance-sheet total. Linked companies must be considered. Source: BAFA guidance, accessed 13 November 2026.

The consultant must be registered and approved for the BAFA programme, use a quality-management system and provide independent advice. Businesses in their first year must also complete a free information meeting with an authorised regional contact before applying.

A company can receive support for no more than five completed consultations during the directive period and no more than two per year. Dividing one project artificially or submitting duplicate topics is not permitted. Source: BAFA programme information, status 13 November 2026.

05How does the BAFA application work?

Apply online before signing the consulting agreement or starting work. Only after the BAFA information letter may the engagement be signed and begin. The letter is not yet a binding grant decision; the final decision follows review of the completion documents.

The consultant then performs the assignment and supplies an individual report and invoice. The company pays by bank transfer and submits the report, invoice, payment evidence and required declarations. BAFA generally requires completion and submission within six months of the information letter. Source: BAFA, accessed 13 November 2026.

Do not try to attach funding retrospectively to an ongoing website project. If the contract or service began too early, funding may be refused. For an uncertain case, obtain clarification from BAFA or an authorised contact before committing.

• Define the consulting objective
• Verify the consultant's BAFA approval
• Complete the information meeting if required
• Apply before contract and start
• Wait for the information letter
• Submit report, invoice and payment evidence on time

06When is BAFA consulting not worthwhile?

Funding is not automatically useful. If the required pages and functions are already clear and you only need reliable implementation, an additional consulting process may add more administration than value. The same can apply to very small projects where the application and pre-financing outweigh the grant.

Consulting is more valuable when there is a genuine business decision: unclear positioning, several audiences, weak lead generation, complicated sales workflows or a broader digital restart. An independent plan can prevent spending on design and technology before objectives and processes are settled.

Request a precise scope before applying. It should state the questions, methods, report and fee and separate later implementation. This makes it easier to assess both BAFA compliance and practical value without treating the programme as a simple website discount.

07Frequently asked questions about BAFA consulting