- AVGS coaching
- AVGS coaching for free
AVGS coaching for free
AVGS Coaching for Free: Really €0 Personal Contribution?
Yes. With an approved AVGS, you pay €0 personal contribution. The coaching is completely free for you because the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) covers the costs through the voucher.
Why Is AVGS Coaching Free?
The Activation and Placement Voucher (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, AVGS) under § 45 SGB III is a funding instrument of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). If it is approved, the Employment Agency covers the full costs of the program; if you receive basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld, formerly Bürgergeld), the Jobcenter does. Billing runs directly between the authority and the AZAV-certified provider, so you neither receive an invoice nor have to pay in advance.
In our case, the AZAV-certified sister company UW Unternehmensweg GmbH carries out the program and bills the Federal Employment Agency.
Do I Have to Pay for AVGS Coaching Myself?
No. If the AVGS is approved in writing before the start, UW Unternehmensweg GmbH, as an AZAV-certified provider (Z-000392-2), bills the Employment Agency or the Jobcenter directly. Your personal contribution is €0, and you receive no invoice. Without approval, you pay yourself or use BAFA consulting funding (BAFA-Beratungsförderung) after founding your business. The AVGS is a discretionary benefit (Ermessensleistung); there is no legal entitlement.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Costs
Is AVGS coaching really 100% free?
Yes. With an approved AVGS voucher, you pay no personal contribution. The costs are billed entirely between the Federal Employment Agency and the AZAV-certified provider (in our case UW Unternehmensweg GmbH). There are no hidden fees.
Who pays for the coaching?
The Employment Agency or the Jobcenter covers the costs through the Activation and Placement Voucher under § 45 SGB III. The provider bills the authority directly, so you receive no invoice.
Is there a catch?
The only “catch”: the voucher has to be approved, and that is a discretionary benefit. Once you have the AVGS in hand, the coaching is free for you. Good preparation for the caseworker meeting considerably increases the chance of approval.
What if my application is rejected?
Then there are alternatives: BAFA-funded business consulting with a reduced personal contribution, or self-pay consulting. In the initial consultation, we show you the route that fits you.
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.
More about the AVGS
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In the free initial consultation, we check your eligibility and prepare you for the conversation with your caseworker.