Cologne & region
Business & Start-Up Consulting Cologne
From the idea to the approved application: we support Cologne founders and existing businesses with funded coaching, a bankable business plan, and the right financing. On site in Cologne and nationwide remotely.
Reviewed by Pavel Deuble
Start-up consultant & BAFA-registered business consultant
In short: As a BAFA-registered business consultancy based in Cologne, we support you with starting a business, funding, and financing. Much of it is eligible for funding, and AVGS start-up coaching is even funded at 100% after written approval. In the free initial consultation, we find out what suits you.
Start-Up Consulting in Cologne
Anyone starting a business in Cologne benefits from short distances: the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) in Ossendorf, the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Köln), the Chamber of Crafts of Cologne (Handwerkskammer zu Köln), and NRW.BANK are the bodies we work with every day. Our start-up consulting in Cologne begins with a free 30-minute initial consultation in which we assess your project, your starting position, and the right funding route. If you are starting a business out of unemployment, start-up coaching through the Activation and Placement Voucher (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, AVGS) is an option; with an AVGS approved in writing, you have no personal contribution. You can read how this works in Cologne on the AVGS coaching Cologne page. If you receive unemployment benefit I (ALG I), we prepare the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) application with you, including business plan, financial plan, and expert opinion (fachkundige Stellungnahme); the details on the Cologne agency are on the start-up grant in Cologne page. If you need a bankable concept for your house bank, KfW, or a funding body, we create your business plan usually in 14 days. For us, start-up consulting means: appointments on site in Cologne or online, fixed contact persons, and documents that the agency, chamber, and bank can review without follow-up questions. The AVGS and the start-up grant are discretionary benefits (Ermessensleistungen); the Employment Agency decides on approval case by case.
Our Services for Cologne Founders and Businesses
Why Business Consulting From Cologne?
Cologne is one of Germany’s strongest locations for start-ups, from the creative and media sector to skilled trades, commerce, and services. Our headquarters are in Cologne (Koblenzer Straße 52, 50968 Köln), with another office in Leverkusen. That way we know the regional contact points (Employment Agency, Jobcenter, IHK Köln, HWK) from practice and combine personal appointments on site with flexible remote consulting.
Trade Tax in Cologne: Municipal Multiplier of 475%
The city of Cologne levies trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) at a municipal multiplier (Hebesatz) of 475% (as of 2026, source: City of Cologne). The multiplier determines how much trade tax is due on your profit and therefore belongs in every financial plan.
Sole proprietorships and partnerships have an allowance of €24,500 of profit per year. The tax office (Finanzamt) also credits a large part of the trade tax against income tax, up to 4.0 times the tax base amount (§ 35 EStG). Freelancers, such as physicians, architects, or journalists, do not pay trade tax.
Example calculation with €60,000 profit per year
- Sole proprietorship: €5,902 trade tax. Up to €4,970 of this can be credited against income tax, leaving an additional burden of around €932.
- GmbH (limited liability company; no allowance, no credit): €9,975 trade tax.
Simplified calculation without add-backs, solidarity surcharge, and church tax; the credit is also limited to the income tax attributable to business income. This does not replace tax advice. In your business plan we calculate with your municipality’s multiplier. Which legal form makes financial sense for you is shown by the legal form finder (Rechtsform-Finder).
Who We Work for in Cologne
- Founders, including those starting out of unemployment (AVGS, start-up grant, entry allowance)
- Freelancers and solo self-employed people who need a bankable plan
- Existing Cologne businesses with funding, financing, or growth needs (BAFA, KfW)
About the author
Pavel Deuble
Start-up consultant & BAFA-registered business consultant · Owner of Unternehmenswerk
Pavel Deuble is the owner of unternehmenswerk and managing director of UW Unternehmensweg GmbH. He is listed in the BAFA register of consultants (consultant ID 191790); the AVGS programs run through the AZAV-certified UW Unternehmensweg GmbH (provider approval Z-000392-2). Since 2018 more than 750 business plans, 4.88 out of 5 on ProvenExpert from 92 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Consulting in Cologne
What does business consulting in Cologne cost?
The initial consultation is free. If you are eligible for funding, you pay little to nothing: AVGS start-up coaching is 100% funded after written approval, and BAFA-funded consulting for existing businesses is funded at 50% to 80% depending on company location. Without funding, the fee depends on the scope of the project.
Do you also offer start-up consulting on site in Cologne?
Yes. Our headquarters are in Cologne (Koblenzer Straße 52), with another office in Leverkusen. Appointments are possible on site or, flexibly and without travel, via Zoom/Teams; we support founders nationwide.
Is start-up consulting in Cologne funded?
In most cases, yes. For the unemployed, AVGS start-up coaching (100% after written approval); for those receiving ALG I, the start-up grant; for those receiving basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld, formerly Bürgergeld), the entry allowance (Einstiegsgeld); and for existing businesses, BAFA-funded consulting. In the initial consultation, we clarify your right funding route.
Which topics do you cover as business consultants in Cologne?
Starting a business and business plans, AVGS start-up coaching, the start-up grant, BAFA-funded business consulting, and financing through KfW and state development banks, from the idea to the approved application.
We Find the Best Solution for Your Project.
In 3 short steps to your free initial consultation with an expert.
- Only 2 minutes of effort
- Individual recommendation
- Free and non-binding
4.9/5 from 65 reviews
What to expect
Personal conversation
With an experienced expert
Individual recommendation
Tailored to your situation
Concrete next steps
Clear, understandable, and actionable
4.9/5
on Google
500+
Start-ups since 2018
Free Initial Consultation for Your Project in Cologne
We check your funding eligibility and show you the fastest route to coaching, a business plan, and financing.