AVGS start-up coaching · nationwide online
Start Your Business for Free with AVGS Coaching
AVGS coaching is start-up coaching that you use with an Activation and Placement Voucher (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, AVGS, § 45 SGB III) from the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter: once approved in writing, it is 100% funded, with no personal contribution. The voucher is a discretionary benefit (Ermessensleistung); the BusinessWeg program is delivered online by the AZAV-certified UW Unternehmensweg GmbH (Z-000392-2), and the initial consultation (30 minutes) is free of charge.
- AZAV provider through sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH (Z-000392-2)
- BAFA-registered consultant · ID 191790
- Nationwide online & in person in Cologne
- Free & non-binding
- Reply within 24 hours
- No obligation
- Reviewed by Pavel Deuble, start-up consultant
- Last updated:
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).
Sound Familiar?
How do I get the voucher?
We prepare the conversation and the next steps with you.
More details
You have heard about the voucher, but nobody explains how to get there. You do not apply for the AVGS with a form; it is discussed at the appointment with your caseworker. If you go in unprepared, you often get little more than a “let’s see.”
Which provider is right for me?
You receive the details of our provider and the matching programme.
More details
You are asked to name a provider and only find search engine results. The program must be delivered by an AZAV-certified provider and must itself be approved; you can find it in the Employment Agency’s KURSNET under its program number. With the provider approval and the program number, your placement specialist can issue the voucher precisely for the program. We give you both for the conversation.
What does the coaching cost me?
Together we clarify the funding and the requirements for your start.
More details
You wonder what the coaching will cost in the end. Once the voucher has been approved in writing, the coaching is 100% funded and your personal contribution is €0. This does not apply before written approval, which is why we never start beforehand.
Basics
What Is AVGS Coaching?
An activation and placement voucher (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein) can give you access to funded coaching. Together we prepare your next steps.
The funding must be approved in writing before you start. Whether it is an option for you is something we clarify in a personal conversation.
View basics and requirements
The Activation and Placement Voucher (AVGS) is a counseling voucher from the Employment Agency. With it, the Employment Agency or Jobcenter finances start-up coaching that, once approved in writing, is 100% funded. Important: the AVGS is a discretionary benefit. Whether you receive it is decided by your caseworker. There is no legal entitlement, but good preparation noticeably improves your chances.
Only AZAV-certified providers may deliver the programs. Our AZAV-certified sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH (provider certificate Z-000392-2) takes care of this. What we specifically do: a business plan created by a professional, the financial plan, marketing, and the preparation of the start-up grant application.
“Businessweg”
Start-up coaching – introduction to self-employment.
120 teaching units · digital (online)
Z-000482-2 · § 45 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 4 SGB III
“JobWeg”
Applicant & job coaching – activation and vocational integration.
80 teaching units · digital (online)
Z-001366-3 · § 45 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 SGB III
Who is it for?
Who Gets an AVGS for Start-Up Coaching?
Three questions help you prepare for your initial consultation. Together we discuss your situation and your plans.
Requirements in detail
Your placement specialist issues an AVGS for start-up coaching under § 45 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 4 SGB III when all of these points apply:
- You receive unemployment benefit I (ALG I) or basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld), or you are registered as a job seeker without receiving benefits.
- You are unemployed or at risk of unemployment, for example after receiving notice of termination during an ongoing employment relationship; people returning to work and employees in transfer companies (Transfergesellschaften) are also included.
- You have a concrete intention to start a business and want to develop a business concept, business plan, and financial plan in the coaching.
- Your placement specialist sees this as your way out of unemployment. The AVGS is a discretionary benefit; there is no legal entitlement to start-up coaching. The entitlement under § 45 para. 7 SGB III after six weeks of unemployment applies only to a voucher for private job placement.
We clarify whether this fits your situation in the free initial consultation of 30 minutes. The three-step check below gives you some orientation in advance.
In 3 short steps, check whether you meet the requirements for an AVGS.
Check first, then apply. We support you. We check your eligibility free of charge and without obligation in the initial consultation.
Your 3-step check
Three questions about your situation
1Do you receive ALG I or basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld, formerly Bürgergeld)?
Unemployment benefit I or basic income support (ALG II)
2Are you planning to become self-employed?
You have a business idea or want to start a business.
3Does your placement specialist see a need for counseling?
The specialist decides this in the conversation.
The check does not replace an individual funding decision. The AVGS is a discretionary benefit, not a legal entitlement.
Together we clarify your next step.
We support you personally and as equals.
- Personal
- Non-binding
- Well prepared
Not sure? Don’t worry. In the free initial consultation we clarify your situation and answer all your questions.
What you get out of it
Goals of AVGS Coaching
AVGS start-up coaching builds up your knowledge of everything around starting a business in a targeted way. In one-on-one coaching, we work on five core goals:
Develop a business idea
Together we sharpen a viable business idea that fits the market and has potential for success.
Create a business plan
You receive a detailed business plan that describes the goals, strategy, finances, and resources of your project.
Set up financial planning
We organize the financial aspects: financing options, budget, taxes, and liquidity.
Apply for funding
We find suitable funding and support you in submitting the application successfully.
Build a network
You make contacts and expand your network to win future customers and business partners.
What the coaching covers
Depending on the scope of your voucher, we cover more or fewer modules. We set the priorities together with you:
- Viable business concept
- Business plan
- Financial & liquidity plan
- Profitability analysis
- Funding & financing
- Market & industry analysis
- Marketing & sales
- Legal form
- Bookkeeping & taxes
- Accounting
- Personnel & business management
- Expert opinion (fachkundige Stellungnahme)
In 4 steps
How to Get to Funded Coaching
- Initial consultation. In 30 minutes we clarify, free of charge, your project, your consulting needs, and whether an AVGS is an option for you.
- AVGS application. You discuss the voucher with your placement specialist at the Employment Agency or Jobcenter. For this, you get the provider and program details from us: UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, provider approval Z-000392-2, BusinessWeg program (approval Z-000482-2), Employment Agency program number 315/79/24.
- Approval. The Employment Agency or Jobcenter decides at its discretion. If the AVGS is approved, it states the number of teaching units, up to 120 for BusinessWeg.
- Coaching starts. You submit the approved voucher to UW Unternehmensweg GmbH. Your one-on-one coaching begins only after the approval notice from your Employment Agency or Jobcenter, online and scheduled according to your plan.
Want to prepare already? You can create your AVGS request for the caseworker meeting yourself in one minute, and we help you personally with the application.
Clarifying the AVGS on Your Own or with Us
| Preparing it yourself | With Unternehmenswerk |
|---|---|
| You check for yourself whether you belong to the group eligible for funding, and read up on § 45 SGB III. | We check your starting position in the free initial consultation and tell you what supports your case and what counts against it. |
| You go into the placement meeting without documents and explain your project off the cuff. | You go in with a short description of your project that makes your request easy for the placement office to follow. |
| You look for an approved provider and the matching program in KURSNET yourself. | You receive the provider approval Z-000392-2 of UW Unternehmensweg GmbH and the program details for the meeting: BusinessWeg, program approval Z-000482-2, program number 315/79/24. |
| You work out yourself which topics the program covers and how many teaching units you need. | We set the priorities with you, from the business concept and the financial plan to the expert opinion. |
| You bear the consulting costs yourself if no voucher is issued. | Once the voucher has been approved in writing, the coaching is 100% funded and your personal contribution is €0. |
The AVGS is a discretionary benefit. The Employment Agency or Jobcenter decides on its issuance. We only start after written approval.
AVGS, Start-Up Grant, BAFA Compared
Three funding routes, three points in time: AVGS coaching comes before founding, the start-up grant at the start, and BAFA consulting funding after founding. They are not mutually exclusive; they follow one another.
Before you start
AVGS start-up coaching
€0
Own contribution with written approval
You are looking for work and want to become self-employed.
- Personal coaching
- Business & financial plan
- Sharpen your business idea
Benefits & requirements
Funding: AVGS coaching (§ 45 SGB III)
Administering body: Employment Agency or Jobcenter; program with the AZAV-certified provider UW Unternehmensweg GmbH
Requirement: Unemployed or at risk of unemployment, ALG I, basic income support, or registered as a job seeker, concrete intention to start a business; discretionary decision by the placement specialist
Benefit: One-on-one coaching with up to 120 teaching units (BusinessWeg): business concept, business plan, financial plan, preparation of the funding applications
Personal contribution: €0 after written approval; without approval you bear the costs yourself
At launch
Start-up grant
ALG I + €300
Grant per month for the first 6 months
You are starting a full-time business while receiving ALG I.
- Secure your living costs
- Social security coverage
- Prepare the application with us
Benefits & requirements
Funding: Start-up grant (§§ 93, 94 SGB III)
Administering body: Employment Agency
Requirement: Receipt of ALG I with at least 150 days of remaining entitlement when starting self-employment, as the main occupation with at least 15 hours per week, expert opinion on the business plan; discretionary benefit
Benefit: Six months of unemployment benefit I plus €300 per month, then on a renewed application up to nine months of €300
Personal contribution: None; the grant secures your living costs, it does not pay for consulting
After founding
BAFA consulting
50–80%
Grant towards eligible consulting costs
You are already self-employed or run a business.
- Financing & strategy
- Processes & organisation
- Sales & growth
Benefits & requirements
Funding: BAFA consulting funding (“Förderung unternehmerischen Know-hows,” funding of entrepreneurial know-how)
Administering body: Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control
Requirement: Existing small or medium-sized business or freelancer based in Germany; consulting by a consultant listed in the BAFA register of consultants; application before consulting begins
Benefit: Grant of 50% to 80% depending on company location on up to €3,500 of consulting costs per engagement
Personal contribution: €1,750 (with a 50% grant) or €700 (with an 80% grant) at €3,500 of consulting costs, plus costs above the calculation basis
The AVGS and the start-up grant are discretionary benefits; BAFA decides on its funding after the proof of use. More on this: start-up grant, BAFA-funded business consulting, and, for people receiving basic income support, entry allowance (Einstiegsgeld).
We'll find your funding path. 30 minutes · free · no obligation
Coaching content
Consulting That Lasts
Choose from a wide range of relevant topics that prepare you for self-employment: modular and combinable, up to 120 teaching units (UE). We agree with you individually which modules make sense.
Review of founder & business idea
You know early on where you stand
- Realistic assessment of your suitability
- Review of your idea’s viability
- First estimate of revenue and feasibility
Developing the business concept
An idea becomes a clear business model
- Structured business plan
- Market and competitor analysis
- Clear positioning and revenue logic
Financial planning & profitability
You understand your numbers before they become a problem
- Revenue, cost, and liquidity planning
- Profitability and break-even analysis
- Realistic capital requirements
Financing & funding
Which funds are realistic, and how to apply for them
- Selection of suitable funding and financing options
- Preparation of the applications
- Support in meetings with banks and funding agencies
Organization, law & implementation
You start in a structured way instead of improvising
- Legal form, taxes, and bookkeeping
- Organization and processes
- Basics of customer acquisition and business management
- Use of digital tools
Marketing & customer acquisition
You know how to reach customers
- Clarity on target groups and benefits
- Marketing and sales concept
- Selection and evaluation of suitable measures
- Networks and partnerships
Online marketing & digital visibility
You get found online, predictably
- Setup and structure of your online presence
- Search engine and online advertising strategies
- Social media strategies including paid advertising
- Digital processes for sales and delivery
With an AVGS voucher approved in writing, you pay no personal contribution for your coaching, which is delivered through the AZAV-certified provider UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, our sister company.
Locally
AVGS Coaching in Your City
We advise nationwide online. For many cities we have dedicated pages with the local Employment Agency, the Jobcenter, and regional success stories:
Photos: Dortmund: Frank Vincentz · CC BY-SA 3.0; Essen: Tuxyso · CC BY-SA 3.0; Duisburg: Oceancetaceen Alice Chodura · Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported; Mönchengladbach: CaS2000 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE; Cologne: Markus Trienke · CC BY-SA 2.0
- AVGS coaching Dortmund
- AVGS coaching Cologne
- AVGS coaching Leverkusen
- AVGS coaching Berlin
- AVGS coaching Hamburg
- AVGS coaching Düsseldorf
- AVGS coaching Nuremberg
- AVGS coaching Frankfurt
- AVGS coaching Leipzig
- AVGS coaching Bonn
- AVGS coaching Braunschweig
- AVGS coaching Essen
- AVGS coaching Stuttgart
- AVGS coaching Mönchengladbach
- AVGS coaching Munich
- AVGS coaching Bremen
- AVGS coaching Dresden
- AVGS coaching Hanover
- AVGS coaching Wiesbaden
- AVGS coaching Mainz
- AVGS coaching Saarbrücken
- AVGS coaching Kiel
- AVGS coaching Magdeburg
- AVGS coaching Erfurt
- AVGS coaching Potsdam
- AVGS coaching Schwerin
- AVGS coaching Duisburg
- AVGS coaching Bochum
- AVGS coaching Wuppertal
- AVGS coaching Bielefeld
- AVGS coaching Münster
- AVGS coaching Aachen
- AVGS coaching Gelsenkirchen
- AVGS coaching Krefeld
- AVGS coaching Karlsruhe
- AVGS coaching Mannheim
- AVGS coaching Augsburg
- AVGS coaching Freiburg
- Business consulting Cologne
Let’s Clarify Your AVGS Together
More about the AVGS
More Topics About the AVGS
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
Frequently Asked Questions About AVGS Coaching
What is AVGS coaching?
AVGS stands for Activation and Placement Voucher, a counseling voucher from the Employment Agency. With it, the Employment Agency or Jobcenter finances coaching, such as start-up coaching, at 100% once approved in writing. It is delivered through our AZAV-certified sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH.
Who can apply for an AVGS?
Primarily ALG I recipients whose caseworker sees a need for counseling. People receiving basic income support (ALG II) can also receive an AVGS in certain cases. Issuing it is a discretionary decision: there is no legal entitlement.
How do I apply for an AVGS?
You submit the application to your personal contact at the Employment Agency or Jobcenter. Important: BEFORE the coaching begins. In the free initial consultation we prepare you for the conversation with your caseworker.
Do I have to pay for AVGS coaching myself?
No, if the Activation and Placement Voucher has been approved in writing in advance. The AZAV-certified provider, UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, then settles the program with the Employment Agency or Jobcenter; you do not pay anything up front and you pay no personal contribution. Without an approved voucher, or for additional services agreed privately, you pay yourself. The AVGS is a discretionary benefit; there is no legal entitlement.
How many teaching units does the coaching include?
Usually between 80 and 160 teaching units (UE), depending on the individual case. Our “Businessweg” program (start-up coaching) comprises up to 120 teaching units, “JobWeg” (applicant/job coaching) 80. The exact number is stated in your AVGS voucher.
Where can I redeem the AVGS?
With any AZAV-certified provider that offers an approved program matching the specifications of your voucher; the choice is yours. For the BusinessWeg start-up coaching, that is UW Unternehmensweg GmbH (provider approval Z-000392-2, program number 315/79/24), nationwide online.
What happens if the application is rejected?
Because the AVGS is a discretionary benefit, this can happen. There are then alternative routes: BAFA-funded consulting with a reduced personal contribution, or self-pay consulting. We help you to justify the application well in order to improve your chances.
Do I have a legal entitlement to an AVGS?
No. The AVGS is a discretionary benefit of the Employment Agency. The decision lies with your caseworker. Good, clearly justified preparation noticeably increases the chance of approval.
Which AZAV programs are offered through UW Unternehmensweg GmbH?
Two programs, both online: “Businessweg” (Z-000482-2), start-up coaching under § 45 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 4 SGB III, up to 120 teaching units; and “JobWeg” (Z-001366-3), applicant & job coaching under § 45 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 SGB III, 80 teaching units. The provider is UW Unternehmensweg GmbH (provider certificate Z-000392-2).
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
Get Your Funded Coaching
In the free initial consultation, we check your eligibility and prepare you for the conversation with your caseworker.
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.
We check external links to official bodies each time this page is updated (see the date above). Content and terms may change; the source itself is always authoritative.