Apply for business start-up assistance for Handwerksmeister/innen (master craftspeople)

• First-time business startup in a skilled trade (Handwerk) Eligible for funding are the first-time founding and takeover of a business as well as active participation (at least 30% share of the capital) in an existing or newly founded business in a skilled trade under Annex A, B1 and B2 of the Handwerksordnung (Skilled Crafts Code, HwO) • Meistertitel (master craftsman title) Eligible to apply are founders whose passed Meisterprüfung (master craftsman examination) was no more than four years ago • Ausnahmebewilligung (exemption permit) under Sections 7b and 8 HwO The same applies to startups with an Ausnahmebewilligung (exemption permit) under Sections 7b and 8 HwO, provided that proof of the passed Meisterprüfung (master craftsman examination) is furnished within the period set by the Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Skilled Crafts), but no later than within three years after the business startup • Positive Schufa-Auskunft (credit report from Schufa) If the base score is below 75 percent, the grant may be refused • Creation and filling of a job or an apprenticeship position (Ausbildungsplatz) If, in connection with the business startup, at least one job subject to social insurance contributions in full-time hours customary for the sector, or an apprenticeship position, is created and filled for at least 12 months, the 2nd stage of the premium can be applied for. Marginally employed workers (geringfügig Beschäftigte) and employees paid less than the applicable Berlin minimum wage are not taken into account

• Stage I: Application for the grant of a subsidy (Zuwendung) from the Meistergründungsprämie Berlin (Berlin master craftsman start-up bonus) program • Stage I: Proof of passed Meisterprüfung (master craftsman examination) or, if applicable, a copy of the exemption approval (Ausnahmebewilligung) pursuant to §§ 7b, 8 of the Handwerksordnung (HwO, Trade and Crafts Code) • Stage I: Gewerbeanmeldung (business registration) • Stage I: Handwerkskarte (craft trade card) • Stage I: Schufa-Auskunft (Schufa credit report) (no older than 3 months) • Stage I: valid residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) • Stage I: articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag), if applicable • Stage I: extract from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug), if applicable • Stage I: evidence of temporary incapacity to work, maternity protection periods (Mutterschutzfristen), parental leave (Elternzeit), or care leave (Pflegezeit), if applicable • Stage I: proof of fulfilment of the funding requirements • Income tax assessment notices (Einkommensteuerbescheide), or • confirmation from a tax consultancy firm, if applicable, of the uninterrupted three-year continuation of self-employed activity in Berlin and that no significant income was earned from employed work or other self-employed work • Evidence of compliance with publicity obligations • Stage I: De-minimis declaration (De-minimis-Erklärung) Form for submitting a de-minimis declaration for businesses: the business declares whether, and if so in what amount, it has received public funds in the form of what is known as de-minimis aid (De-minimis-Beihilfe) in the current tax year and the two preceding tax years. • Stage I: Declaration acknowledging receipt of the information sheet (Merkblatt) on respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union • Stage II: Application for the grant of a subsidy from the Meistergründungsprämie Berlin program • Stage II: Training contract or employment contract • Stage II: Proof of paid social insurance contributions • Stage II: Evidence or confirmation of the employment or training relationship • Evidence of salary payments (at least the first and last month), or • confirmation from a tax consultancy firm, if applicable, of the employment or training relationship, stating the agreed weekly hours, the hourly wage, and the duration of the employment • Stage II: Declaration acknowledging receipt of the information sheet on respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

• Stage I: Application for a grant from the Meistergründungsprämie Berlin (Master Craftsperson Start-up Bonus Berlin) programme www.hwk-berlin.de/downloads/antrag-meistergruendungspraemie- • Stage I: De-minimis declaration (De-minimis-Erklärung) www.hwk-berlin.de/downloads/de-minimis-erklaerung-stand-apri • Stage I and Stage II: Declaration of acknowledgment of the information sheet on respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union www.hwk-berlin.de/downloads/erklaerung-zur-kenntnisnahme-des • Stage II: Application for a grant from the Meistergründungsprämie Berlin (Master Craftsperson Start-up Bonus Berlin) programme www.hwk-berlin.de/downloads/antrag-meistergruendungspraemie-

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• Richtlinie (guideline) on the Meistergründungsprämie (master craftsman business start-up grant) www.hwk-berlin.de/downloads/richtlinie-meistergruendungsprae

4 weeks

• Overview of the Meistergründungsprämie (master craftsman start-up bonus) (Handwerkskammer Berlin (Berlin Chamber of Crafts)) www.hwk-berlin.de/artikel/meistergruendungspraemie-91,0,219. • Information sheet on respect for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Handwerkskammer Berlin (Berlin Chamber of Crafts)) www.hwk-berlin.de/downloads/merkblatt-zur-achtung-der-grundr

The application and evidence of compliance with the requirements must be sent to the Handwerkskammer Berlin (Chamber of Crafts Berlin).