BAFA funding for consulting in 2027: extended to 2028, what changes
BAFA funding for consulting for SMEs does not end in late 2026 but has been extended to 31 December 2028. For applications from 1 January 2027 the regional partner meeting no longer applies and applications go only via ELSTER or BundID. The grant and the €3,500 cap stay the same.
Yes, BAFA funding for consulting for SMEs is still available in 2027: BAFA has extended the directive with changed conditions from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028. The assessment base stays at €3,500 and the grant at 50 or 80 percent. What is new is mainly how you apply. PASSION4IT is registered with BAFA, consultant number 222542, and the Digital Check at a fixed price of €3,950 is eligible. Book a meeting directly at passion4it.de/en/booking/.
What you take away from this article:
- How long the funding now runs and which version applies to your application
- What changes for applications from 1 January 2027
- What stays the same, from the cap to the number of engagements
- Whether to apply in 2026 or wait until 2027
- What the Digital Check costs with funding
Is BAFA funding for consulting still available in 2027?
Yes. According to BAFA, the funding directive is being extended »with changed conditions from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028«. The amended version applies to all grants applied for from 1 January 2027, and at most to proofs of use submitted by 31 December 2028.
The amendment was published in the Federal Gazette on 28 October 2026. That makes the earlier reading outdated that the programme ends on 31 December 2026. The date still matters, though: applications filed by then run under the current version.
What changes for applications from 1 January 2027?
Mainly the procedure. The mandatory meeting with a regional partner no longer applies, and applications can only be filed via an ELSTER account or BundID. A bank transaction record is enough as proof of payment.
Two changes concern the engagement itself. The maximum scope is no longer stated in days but as 40 hours of consulting. And VAT can be eligible: companies not entitled to deduct input tax can claim the gross costs, all others the net costs. This does not change the cap on the assessment base.
| Item | Applications until 31 Dec 2026 | Applications from 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Regional partner meeting | mandatory | no longer required |
| How to apply | current procedure | only via ELSTER or BundID |
| Maximum scope of the engagement | five days | 40 hours |
| VAT | not eligible | gross eligible without input tax deduction, otherwise net |
| Assessment base | at most €3,500 | at most €3,500 |
| Funding rate | 50% or 80% | 50% or 80% |
What stays the same with BAFA funding?
The amount. Eligible consulting costs remain capped at €3,500. In the former West German states including Berlin and the Leipzig region the rate is 50 percent, so at most €1,750; in the eastern states including the Lüneburg and Trier regions it is 80 percent, so at most €2,800.
The limit on the number of engagements also stays: at most two per year and five within the term of the directive, with the date of application being decisive. And the application still has to be approved before the consulting starts. An engagement already under way cannot be funded retroactively.
Should I apply in 2026 or wait until 2027?
That depends mainly on when the engagement should start. Waiting does not cost you any grant, because the amount and the cap stay the same. If you apply by the end of the year you go through the current procedure with the regional partner meeting; if you apply from January you need an ELSTER account or BundID.
For an application under the current version, the proof of use has to be submitted no later than six months after receiving the information letter. If you only need the engagement in spring 2027, it makes sense to apply under the new rules. In both cases BAFA decides whether your project is eligible.
What does the Digital Check cost with BAFA funding?
The PASSION4IT Digital Check costs €3,950 at a fixed price plus travel costs. With BAFA funding the own contribution is €2,200 in the former West German states and €1,150 in the eastern states, provided the application is approved before the start. Within two to four weeks we assess digital maturity across five dimensions, ending with a prioritised roadmap with quick wins.
Also eligible at PASSION4IT are the AI workshop at a fixed price of €3,900 net with an own share of €2,150 in the former West German states, and the consulting share of Smart Software Selection. The same €3,500 cap applies to each.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How long does BAFA funding for consulting run now?
Until 31 December 2028. The amended directive applies to all applications from 1 January 2027 and at most to proofs of use submitted by 31 December 2028.
Do I still need a meeting with a regional partner from 2027?
No. For applications from 1 January 2027 the mandatory regional partner meeting no longer applies. You then file the application via your ELSTER account or BundID.
Will more be funded from 2027?
No. The assessment base stays at no more than €3,500, the grant at no more than €1,750 in the former West German states and €2,800 in the eastern states. The only new point is that companies without input tax deduction can claim gross costs.
Is PASSION4IT approved for BAFA funding?
PASSION4IT is registered with BAFA as a consultancy, consultant number 222542. BAFA reviews and approves whether your specific project is eligible.
Where does this information come from?
From BAFA’s programme page »Förderung von Unternehmensberatungen für KMU« and from the second amendment to the funding directive of 15 October 2026, published in the Federal Gazette on 28 October 2026 (BAnz AT 28.10.2026 B3), as of 3 November 2026. This article is not funding or legal advice.