Do I need a consultant if I do not speak German?

Not necessarily, but it often helps. Many German programmes require applications and correspondence in German, and the funding bodies' guidelines are mostly published in German only. EU programmes such as Horizon Europe work in English.

How do I spot an unreliable consultant?

Typical warning signs are guaranteed approval, prepayment without a written scope, pressure to sign quickly, cold calls promising new funding sources and vague answers about references.

Does this portal rate the consultants it lists?

No. The directory lists providers for your own research. It does not rate them and does not broker contracts for commission.

Choosing a Grant Consultant in Germany: Checklist

To choose a good grant consultant in Germany, check three things: does their specialisation match your programme, can they show verifiable references in exactly that programme, and are their fees set out transparently in writing? The title Fördermittelberater (grant consultant) is not legally protected, so treat the selection like choosing a key supplier. Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) recommends talking to at least two consultants and comparing written offers.

Define what you need first

Project type: R&D, investment, start-up, digitalisation, international consortium.
Funding type: tax incentive such as the research allowance (Forschungszulage), federal grant, state programme, EU programme or promotional loan.
Service: eligibility check only, full application, or support after approval (funds requests, reports, final proof of use).

For a free first overview, use the federal funding advisory service for research and innovation (Förderberatung des Bundes), the federal funding database, your local chamber of commerce (IHK) and, for EU programmes, the National Contact Points.

Selection checklist

Criterion	What to look for
Specialisation	A clear focus on your funding type, for example the research allowance or EU funding, rather than “all programmes”
References in your programme	Approved projects in the same programme; two or three reference contacts you may call yourself
Fee transparency	Written offer with scope, amounts, due dates and rules for rejection or clawback
Independence	Disclosure of commissions or ties to banks, software vendors or service providers
Availability	A named contact, realistic response times, capacity before your deadline
Data protection and confidentiality	Non-disclosure agreement and clear rules for storing your project and financial data
Subject knowledge	Enough understanding of your technology to describe state of the art, risks and work plan convincingly
Language	Ability to work in English with you and in German with the funding body if required

BAFA also advises making sure that the person you meet is the one who will do the work, and being sceptical when analysis and actual consulting are to be done by different people.

Red flags

Guaranteed success: funding bodies and evaluators decide. Nobody can guarantee a grant.
Prepayment without a defined scope: money upfront with no written description of what you get.
Time pressure: pushing you to sign immediately. Under the BAFA consulting grant, signing a contract before the information letter from the regional office (Leitstelle) counts as starting the project and rules out funding.
Unsolicited offers: BAFA names pointing to a company’s financial problems and offering to unlock new funding pots as a favourite argument of not always reputable providers.
Evasive answers about references, past programmes or who is responsible.
Cheap introductory analysis followed by expensive follow-up work.

Questions for the first meeting

Which programmes have you supported in recent years, and how many applications in the programme relevant to me?
Can you name two or three reference clients I may contact?
Who will write the application, and who is my permanent contact?
What documents and how much staff time do you need from us?
How is your fee structured, when is it due, and what applies on rejection, reduction or clawback?
Are funds requests, interim reports and the final proof of use included?
Do you receive commissions or benefits from third parties connected with my project?
How do you protect confidential data, and will you sign an NDA?
When would you advise against applying?

The last question is telling: a serious consultant will also say when a programme is not a good fit. For pricing, see our guide on grant consultant fees.

What matters for each funding type

Research allowance: the R&D work must be described convincingly for the certificate from the BSFZ (Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage), and costs must later be prepared correctly for the tax office. Ask about experience with both steps and about cooperation with your tax adviser.
EU programmes such as Horizon Europe: look for experience with consortia, English-language proposals and the Commission’s evaluation criteria, and ask whether partner search and the consortium agreement are covered.
Federal and state programmes: knowledge of the responsible programme managers (Projektträger) and state development banks helps, as guidelines and application windows change frequently.

After you decide

Agree in writing who delivers which documents by when, and name one person in your company as the internal lead. Read the final application in full before submission: you sign it and must carry out the project as described. Keep all versions and correspondence, because questions from the funding body can come years later.

Where to look

Recommendations from companies in your sector, chambers and industry associations are a good start. In our grant consultant directory you can search by focus, for example in the grant consulting category. The directory does not rate providers and does not broker contracts for commission, so the checks above remain your responsibility.

Sources

This guide does not replace tax or legal advice; the programme guideline and the grant decision of the funding body are binding.

How to choose a grant consultant in Germany: checklist, red flags and questions for the first meeting