Viability statement for the German start-up grant — expert body form BA GZ 04

Anyone leaving unemployment to start a business with the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) must prove to the employment agency that the venture is viable — by a statement from an expert body (fachkundige Stelle) (§ 93(2), first sentence no. 2 and second sentence, SGB III). Under the statute, expert bodies are in particular chambers of industry and commerce, chambers of crafts, professional chambers, trade associations and credit institutions; the Federal Employment Agency adds tax advisers, auditors, management consultants and start-up advice centres. The expert body — not the founder — completes form BA GZ 04: it reviews the business plan, capital requirement and financing plan, revenue and profitability forecast, CV and proof of qualifications, and gives its verdict. The agency does not pay for it.

Up to date for 2025 — verified on September 23, 2026Official formGuide: about 45 min

This content is part of the path: Starting a business out of unemployment· Step 4 of 6· Next step: Applying for Germany's start-up grant — from unemployment benefit to self-employment

Deadlines

Have the statement before filing the start-up grant application — and file that before you start: § 324(1), first sentence, SGB III: employment promotion benefits are paid only if applied for before the event giving rise to them; the statement must be submitted under § 93(2), second sentence
At least 150 days of unemployment benefit left on the start date: § 93(2), first sentence no. 1, SGB III — obtaining the statement too late and postponing the start can cost you this condition
Phase 2: a new statement only if the agency asks for one: § 94(2), second sentence, SGB III — where there are well-founded doubts about the business activity

Documents to prepare

Description of the venture (business plan)
Capital requirement and financing plan
Revenue and profitability forecast
CV with certificates and proof of qualifications
Reasons for closing a previous business, if applicable
Customer number at the employment agency (Kundennummer)
Proof of licensing requirements (licence, commercial register, register of crafts), if needed

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All fields are required unless marked “optional”.

1 Address of the client (the prospective founder)

1 Client address — first name and surname(optional)

1 Client address — street and number(optional)

1 Client address — postcode and town(optional)

2 Address of the expert body (sender)

2 Expert body — name (chamber, tax adviser, bank …)(optional)

2 Expert body — department or contact person(optional)

2 Expert body — street and number(optional)

2 Expert body — postcode and town(optional)

A. General

3 Were all documents needed to assess the start-up submitted?(optional)

4 Submitted: meaningful description of the start-up explaining the business idea

4 Submitted: CV (including certificates or proof of qualification)

4 Submitted: capital requirement and financing plan

4 Submitted: revenue and profitability forecast

4 Submitted: reasons for closing the last business (if applicable)

B. The founder

5 Surname(optional)

6 First name(optional)

7 Customer number at the employment agency (Kundennummer)(optional)

8 Are the professional and sector-specific requirements met?(optional)

9 Are the commercial and entrepreneurial requirements met?(optional)

10 Are the licensing requirements met (e.g. licence, commercial register, register of crafts)?(optional)

C. The business plan

11 Does the venture appear competitive, also in the foreseeable future?(optional)

12 Does the founder estimate expected revenue realistically?(optional)

13 Does the founder estimate expected operating results before tax realistically?(optional)

14 Does the founder estimate the expected capital requirement realistically?(optional)

15 Can the expected income provide an adequate livelihood?(optional)

D. Summary assessment of viability

16 Summary assessment — line 1(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 2(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 3(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 4(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 5(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 6(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 7(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 8(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 9(optional)

16 Summary assessment — line 10 (a longer assessment goes on a separate sheet)(optional)

E. Final assessment

17 Overall, does building a viable business appear achievable?(optional)

18 Place(optional)

19 Date (DD.MM.YYYY; the expert body signs by hand)(optional)

DD.MM.YYYY

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Who this applies to

The expert body issuing the statement: chambers, trade associations, credit institutions (§ 93(2), second sentence, SGB III) and, according to the Federal Employment Agency, also tax advisers, auditors, management consultants and start-up advice centres
The founder who receives unemployment benefit, wants to take up full-time self-employment and applies for the start-up grant (§ 93(1) SGB III): the founder chooses the body and supplies the documents
Grant recipients in phase 2, when the agency has well-founded doubts about the business activity and asks for a new statement (§ 94(2), second sentence, SGB III)
People receiving basic income support under SGB II who become self-employed: to assess viability, the employment agency should require a statement from an expert body (§ 16c(3), second sentence, SGB II)
NOT the employment agency itself: it reviews the statement and decides on the grant at its discretion; whether the founder has the necessary skills is assessed by the placement officer (§ 93(2), first sentence no. 3, SGB III)
NOT a substitute for the application: the statement is an annex to the start-up grant application and applies for nothing

Worked example

Kanzlei Weber Steuerberatung reviews Jonas Albrecht's bicycle workshop

Jonas Albrecht, a bicycle mechanic, receives unemployment benefit and wants to open a bicycle workshop. Using the Federal Employment Agency's model cover letter, he sends the tax advisory firm Kanzlei Weber Steuerberatung his business plan, a capital requirement and financing plan of 38,000 euros (22,000 euros for fittings and tools, 16,000 euros start-up costs, covered by 12,000 euros of savings and a 26,000 euro bank loan), a revenue and profitability forecast of 96,000 euros revenue in year one, his CV and his journeyman's certificate. The firm checks the forecast, finds the revenue estimate tight but realistic, and certifies on form BA GZ 04, with reasons, that the venture is viable; it signs by hand. Jonas uploads the statement with his online application before opening the workshop (§ 324(1) SGB III). He pays the firm's fee himself: the agency does not cover the cost. All amounts are illustrative.

How to fill it in, step by step

Founder: check with your placement officer whether the start-up grant is an option and which documents you need.
Founder: prepare a business plan, a capital requirement and financing plan and a revenue and profitability forecast, and add your CV and proof of qualifications.
Founder: choose an expert body and send it the documents, most easily with the Federal Employment Agency's model cover letter.
Expert body: check that the documents are complete and plausible and whether the venture allows long-term success as a self-employed business.
Expert body: complete form BA GZ 04, give reasons for your verdict on viability and sign by hand.
Founder: submit the statement with the start-up grant application before taking up self-employment (§ 324(1), first sentence, SGB III).

Good to know

The statutory list is not exhaustive: § 93(2), second sentence, SGB III says „insbesondere“ (in particular). According to the Federal Employment Agency, you choose the body yourself.
The employment agency does not pay any costs arising from your choice of body (Federal Employment Agency).
A positive statement creates no entitlement: the start-up grant is discretionary (§ 93(1) and (2) SGB III), and the agency must be convinced of the prospects of success.
The statement proves viability (§ 93(2), first sentence no. 2); the founder sets out his or her skills and abilities separately (no. 3).
Alongside the form, the Federal Employment Agency provides a model cover letter the founder uses to send the documents and request the statement.
SGB II has its own rule: there the employment agency should require a statement from an expert body, and support requires that the activity be economically viable and overcome or reduce need for assistance within a reasonable time (§ 16c(3) SGB II).

Common mistakes

Filling in the statement yourself. The form is the expert body's statement, not a self-assessment by the founder.
Sending incomplete documents. The body needs the business plan, capital requirement and financing plan, revenue and profitability forecast, CV and proof of qualifications (Federal Employment Agency).
Obtaining the statement only after starting. The application must precede the event giving rise to the benefit (§ 324(1), first sentence, SGB III).
Expecting the agency to pay. It does not cover the expert body's costs.
Treating a positive statement as an approval. The agency decides at its discretion.

Frequently asked questions

Who may issue the viability statement (Tragfähigkeitsbescheinigung)?

An expert body — under § 93(2), second sentence, SGB III in particular chambers of industry and commerce, chambers of crafts, professional chambers, trade associations and credit institutions. The Federal Employment Agency also names tax advisers, auditors, management consultants and start-up advice centres.

What documents does the expert body need?

According to the Federal Employment Agency: a description of the venture (business plan), a capital requirement and financing plan, a revenue and profitability forecast, and a CV with proof of qualifications.

Who pays for the statement?

The founder. The employment agency does not cover costs arising from the choice of body.

Does a positive statement guarantee the grant?

No. The start-up grant is discretionary (§ 93 SGB III); the agency decides at its discretion and also assesses the founder's skills and abilities.

Go further

Compute the related amounts

German unemployment benefit — for how long and how much?

Related forms

Official sources

§ 93 SGB III — Start-up grant (Gesetze im Internet) — September 23, 2026
§ 94 SGB III — Duration and amount of support — September 23, 2026
§ 324 SGB III — Application before benefit — September 23, 2026
§ 16c SGB II — Integration support for the self-employed — September 23, 2026
Federal Employment Agency — Applying for the start-up grant — September 23, 2026

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Guide and document provided for information purposes only; they do not constitute personalised legal or tax advice. Check the recipient organisation's requirements and consult a professional if needed.