Corona: Federal government wants to help solo self-employed!

There is considerable need for unbureaucratic emergency assistance in favor of microenterprises from all economic sectors as well as solo self-employed persons and members of the liberal professions, who usually do not receive loans and have no collateral or other income.

Key Facts

Significant need for emergency aid for micro-enterprises, solo self-employed and members of the liberal professions.
Financial support of up to €15,000 for up to 10 employees.
One-off payment of €9,000 for 3 months for up to 5 employees.
Reduced rent of at least 20% enables additional support for two months.
Prerequisite: economic difficulties due to corona; company stable before March 2020.
Application: electronic, proof of liquidity shortage required.
Program volume of up to €50 billion for 3 million self-employed persons over 3+2 months.

These people, which include many graphic designers, programmers, web designers and the like in the IT sector, should now be helped unbureaucratically.

Here are the key points of the emergency aid program:

Emergency financial assistance (taxable grants) for microenterprises from all sectors of the economy, as well as solo self-employed persons and members of the liberal professions with up to 10 employees.
Up to €9,000 one-time payment for 3 months for up to 5 employees (full-time equivalents).
Up to €15,000 one-time payment for 3 months for up to 10 employees (full-time equivalents)
Provided the landlord reduces the rent by at least 20%, any unused subsidy can also be used for two additional months.

The aim of the program is to provide a grant to secure the economic existence of the applicants and to bridge acute liquidity bottlenecks, including current operating costs such as rents, loans for business premises, leasing rates, etc. (also complementary to the state programs).

Prerequisite: economic difficulties as a result of Corona. Company must not have been in economic difficulty prior to March 2020. Loss occurrence after March 11, 2020.

Application: if possible electronically; existential threat or liquidity bottleneck caused by Corona must be insured.

Technical data: Funds provided by the Federal Government (Section 60); management by BMWi, approval (processing of applications, disbursement and, if necessary, payment). Recovery of funds by state/local governments; legal basis: 2020 federal small grants rule.

Cumulation with other aid related to the Corona pandemic, but also with existing minimis aid, is possible in principle. Any overcompensation must be repaid. This subsidy is taken into account in the tax assessment for income tax or corporation tax in the coming year with an effect on profits.

Program volume: up to €50 billion with maximum utilization of 3 million self-employed and microenterprises over 3+2 months. Unused budget funds are returned to the budget.

Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.