Starting a business · nationwide online & in person in Cologne
Start-Up Consulting for Your Step into Self-Employment
Individual support from the business idea through the business plan to financing: personal, honest, and with the necessary know-how. AVGS-funded on request (100% after written approval).
750+
Projects
500+
Start-ups
4.9
on Google
Since 2018
Experience
- Personal one-on-one support, tailored case by case
- AZAV provider (through sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH) · BAFA consultant (ID 191790) · KfW financing support
- AVGS-funded (100% after written approval) or BAFA grant of 50% to 80% depending on company location
- Free & non-binding
- Reply within 24 hours
- No obligation
Qualifications & experience
Your project in experienced hands.
Our credentials and track record at a glance.
4.88 / 5
92 reviews on ProvenExpert
As of September 2026
750+
business plans written
Since 2018
Registration
BAFA register of consultants
Pavel Deuble, management consultant
Consultant ID 191790
What does this mean for you?
Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). Pavel Deuble, consultant ID 191790. Your BAFA-funded consulting must be provided by a listed consultant.
Provider approval
AZAV-approved provider
UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, our sister company
AZAV provider approval Z-000392-2
What does this mean for you?
AVGS programs may only be delivered by approved providers. Our sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, Leverkusen, takes care of this.
Our service
KfW financing support
We put together the documents for your loan application, which your house bank forwards to KfW, and prepare you for the bank meeting.
In practice: Since 2018 we have written more than 750 business plans. 99% of the start-up grant (Gründungszuschuss) applications we supported were approved (internally documented). The start-up grant is a discretionary benefit under § 93 SGB III; the Employment Agency decides on approval.
Track record & funding notes
Listed in the BAFA register of consultants; AVGS programs through the AZAV-certified provider UW Unternehmensweg GmbH
4.88 out of 5 on ProvenExpert
Based on 92 reviews on ProvenExpert (as of October 2026).
Why Start-Up Consulting Is Crucial
For many founders, the path to self-employment brings opportunities but also risks. Professional start-up consulting from an experienced coach often makes the decisive difference, for the progress and lasting success of your venture.
External experts bring specialist knowledge and practical experience to develop a viable business strategy with you. You benefit from structured support especially in financial planning, market analysis, legal fundamentals, and business management topics. An objective outside perspective uncovers blind spots in the business plan early on, for more security, stability, and growth.
As a certified provider, we work closely with the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) and support you in using the Activation and Placement Voucher (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, AVGS) to finance your coaching. Our focus is on financing advice and on creating convincing business plans: individual, practical, and bankable. Existing companies are also supported on site by our business consulting in Cologne.
Where Can I Turn If I Want to Become Self-Employed?
Get professional advice early. There are several points of contact on the way to self-employment:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) & Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer)
Information events, workshops, and getting-started help: a solid first point of contact for basic questions.
Start-up centers & technology parks
Practical support, networking events, and spaces for rent, especially for technology-oriented start-ups.
Professional associations & industry organizations
Specialized industry know-how and legal guidance, tailored to your project.
Professional consultants like Unternehmenswerk
Individual, continuous support from the business idea through financial planning to the legal structure.
Our Business Start-Up Consulting at a Glance
We support all key aspects of starting a company, from the first idea to financing. In our one-on-one coaching, we help you with financial planning and liquidity planning, marketing strategy, legal and organizational questions, and building a reliable network, among other things.
Business idea & concept
We put your idea to the test, sharpen it, and develop a viable business concept.
Which Legal Form Suits Your Start-Up?
A first orientation in just a few clicks. In the consultation, we then go through your situation in detail.
Legal form finder
Three questions, and you know which legal form is most likely to fit your start.
A guide for orientation, not legal or tax advice. The right legal form also depends on taxes, social insurance, and industry; we clarify that individually. Key figures as of 2026.
How Your Start-Up Consulting Is Funded
There are two routes to funded start-up consulting. In the free initial consultation, we tell you which one suits you.
AVGS (Employment Agency)
For unemployed people or people at risk of unemployment, with a voucher. After written approval, the consulting is 100% funded, so it is free of charge for you.
- 100% funded after written approval, free for you
- Up to 120 teaching units
- Through our AZAV-certified sister company
BAFA “Förderung unternehmerischen Know-hows” (funding of entrepreneurial know-how)
For founders as well as young and existing companies. The grant covers part of the consulting costs.
- 50% to 80% of the consulting costs, depending on company location
- Apply before the consulting begins
- BAFA-registered consultant (ID 191790)
As an AZAV provider (through our sister company) and a BAFA-registered consultant, we cover both routes.
What Does a Start-Up Consultant Cost?
The costs are as individual as the project. Depending on scope, they are usually between €3,000 and €8,000. The best part: with an AVGS voucher, the consulting is completely free for you, and with BAFA funding you save 50–80%, depending on the federal state. The price depends on, among other things:
- Scope and type of consulting
- Complexity of your start-up project
- Business plan for financing or an investor
- Obtaining funds through a bank or public authority
- Consulting through an AVGS voucher or BAFA funding
Video testimonials
First-Hand Experiences
See how founders experienced the path to funded self-employment, with real names and verifiable on request.
4.9 / 5 · 65 Google reviews
In 30 minutes we answer all your questions, free of charge and without obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Start-Up Consulting
What does start-up consulting cost?
That is as individual as the project itself. Depending on scope, the costs are usually between €3,000 and €8,000. With an AVGS voucher, the consulting is completely free for you; with BAFA funding you save 50–80% of the consulting costs, depending on the federal state.
Who can use funded start-up consulting?
People receiving unemployment benefit I (ALG I) or basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld, formerly Bürgergeld) can receive 100% funded start-up coaching through an AVGS after written approval. Existing companies and freelancers can use BAFA consulting funding (50% to 80% depending on company location). We work with you to determine which route fits.
How does the consulting work?
You get in touch, we reply within 24 hours, and we hold a free initial consultation. Only after that does the actual consulting, tailored to you individually, begin. We advise nationwide online and, on request, in person in Cologne.
Does Unternehmenswerk also prepare the expert opinion?
Yes. We analyze your business plan, assess viability and suitability, and prepare the expert opinion you need for the start-up grant.
How long has Unternehmenswerk been around?
We have worked in start-up consulting since 2018 and have supported more than 750 projects, including more than 500 successful start-ups.
Get Started with Experts at Your Side
In the free initial consultation, we get to know your project and show you the right, funded path into self-employment.
Official Sources, Information Sheets & Flyers
The authoritative primary sources to read up on: information sheets and program pages of the responsible funding bodies, as well as the relevant legal texts.
External links to official bodies, checked on June 19, 2026. Content and terms may change; the source itself is always authoritative.