Before the application
- Pointers to programmes that fit your project
- A quote in exactly the structure the programmes expect
- An honest view on whether the effort is worth it
IT consulting with public funding
Good IT consulting costs money.Often the state pays half.
Several German federal states run grant programmes for consulting on digitalisation and IT security. The usual rate is 50 percent of the consulting fee, capped at a daily rate and a set number of days. The hard part is not the amount but the process, and that is where most applications fail.
If you read only one section of this page, make it this one.
The order of steps decides
- 01
Get a quote.
Most programmes require a valid quote before you can even submit an application.
- 02
Submit the application.
Depending on the programme, you submit it yourself or we do it for you.
- 03
Wait for the approval notice.
Processing usually takes a few weeks.
- 04
Only then place the order.
A project counts as started as soon as a legally binding order has been placed.
The most expensive mistake is placing the order first and applying for funding afterwards. The entitlement is then lost, with no exceptions and no goodwill. Rushing this step often costs a five-figure sum.
The second common mistake is applying too late in the year. Funding budgets are limited and are regularly used up before the year ends. In one case a state programme closed in late summer 2026 because the maximum number of applications had been reached. Plan funded projects for the first quarter.
What is typically funded
As a rule, the consulting work is funded, not software, licences or hardware. Investment programmes work the other way round. Typical eligible components are:
- Current-state analysis: recording and documenting existing processes
- Target design: developing optimised digital processes
- Software selection: support in choosing the system
- Implementation support: expert advice during the rollout
This is exactly how we structure our projects, not because of the funding but because it is the right order. That it fits the programmes well is more or less a coincidence.
As a rule, funding does not cover standard IT installations without a consulting element, hardware and licence costs, training unrelated to processes, measures that only meet legal obligations, or ongoing support. Managed services are therefore excluded, while consulting and projects are not.
Programmes
As of 20 September 2026| Programm | Land | Zuschuss | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MID Digitale Prozesse (digital processes) | NRW | €500 per consulting day, max. 30 days, up to €15,000 | Portal currently closed |
| MID Digitale Sicherheit (digital security) | NRW | 50% of investment costs, up to €15,000 | check |
| DIGI-Beratung (RKW) | Hesse | €400 per consulting day or max. 50%, up to 15 consulting days per year | open |
| Digitalbonus | Bavaria | up to €7,500 (Standard) / €30,000 (Plus), 50% | open |
| BAFA Unternehmensberatung (business consulting) | Federal | partial, smaller amounts | until 31 December 2026 |
No longer available are go-digital (ended on 1 January 2025) and Digital Jetzt (ended on 31 December 2023). Both are still advertised online but no longer exist.
All information without guarantee. Funding programmes change constantly, and only the funding body concerned can give binding information.
We handle the paperwork with you
You do not have to work through funding guidelines on your own. We support the funding process from start to finish as part of the project, at no extra charge.
During the application
- We prepare the documents together with you
- We write the project outline and the description of services
- Where the service provider submits the application, we do that
During the project and afterwards
- Time records in the format the funding body requires
- A final report, which for many programmes is also your project result
- Proof of use of funds submitted on time
So you have one contact for both the project and the funding, and you do not have to mediate between IT provider, funding consultant and case officer.
Our role has limits, because we are not lawyers or tax advisers. Binding information on eligibility comes from the funding body, and where de minimis limits apply your tax adviser should be involved. We cannot promise approval, as that decision rests solely with the funding body.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can we apply for funding retrospectively?
No. Almost all programmes only fund projects that have not yet started, and a project counts as started once it has been ordered in a legally binding way. An application made after the order is placed will be rejected.
How long does it take?
Depending on the programme, it takes from a few weeks to about a month and a half until the approval notice arrives. Build this time into your project plan, otherwise the start will be delayed unexpectedly.
Is it worth the effort for small projects?
Often not. With two to three consulting days, the effort for the application is out of proportion to the result. We tell you that openly instead of selling you funding that brings nothing in the end.
Can we get funding for managed services?
No. Ongoing support is not a consulting service. Funding covers clearly defined projects focused on analysis, design or implementation.
Can we combine several programmes?
Not for the same measure, as a rule. Most guidelines rule out double funding from state, federal or EU sources. Separate projects, however, can often be funded separately.
Are you a certified funding consultant?
No, and most programmes do not require one. With NRW MID, for example, the applying company chooses its service provider freely, and no certification is required. Other programmes work with listed consultants, and we will point this out to you in our conversation.
Does support with the application cost extra?
No, it is part of the project. We charge for the consulting, not for the paperwork around it.
What happens if the application is rejected?
Then you decide whether the project goes ahead anyway, with the same quote on unchanged terms. We do not set our prices with the funding in mind.
Funded IT consulting
Does your project fit a funding programme?
In a twenty-minute intro call we check whether your project fits an open programme, and we tell you openly if it does not.