Support for small businesses in Poland

The Polish government sees economic potential in financing new entrepreneurial activities. Therefore, various state support programs for small businesses have been developed and are functioning in the country. The requirements for applicants for startup assistance vary depending on the chosen program.

Types of support for small businesses in Poland

Innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs can receive support from the state in several ways.

Subsidies from county and voivodeship employment services

Individuals eligible for the grant include:

• those with official unemployed status;
• non-working individuals caring for a person with a disability;
• graduates of social integration clubs and centers.

The allocated budgets from labor exchanges cannot exceed six times the average salary in the country. Applications for grant funding must be made before starting a business.

Lending

Financial support from the state for starting entrepreneurial activities is provided through the National Development Bank. This banking institution is specifically established for financing development projects.

This state support for small businesses is available to:

• master's students and final-year university students;
• graduates of educational institutions within four years of obtaining their diplomas;
• unemployed individuals registered with the labor exchange who have not received grants from the employment center;
• caregivers of people with disabilities who do not receive care allowances for family members.

The maximum amount of the credit line is twenty average salaries, the duration of the grace period for repayment is one year, and full repayment is up to seven years. The interest rate ranges from 0.01 to 0.03%. There are no service fees for the loan.

EU subsidies for business development

The EU provides support for starting a business in Poland. Medium, small, and micro-enterprises are eligible for subsidies. Funding is carried out within the framework of regional programs. Residents and non-residents of the country whose business activities are officially registered and conducted in Poland can apply.

Financial support for small businesses is allocated for domain maintenance, equipment purchase, software, legal services, and advertising campaigns.

«Firma na wsi.». This is a social program to support small businesses, designed for farmers and other individuals living in villages. The grant amount is up to 100,000 PLN.

Assistance from the Polish Development Fund (PRF). This business development program provides financial and informational assistance to young companies for entering foreign markets. Offers are constantly changing, so the relevance of funding methods should be checked on the PRF website.

Subsidies from innovation development centers in Eastern Poland. Individuals under 35 years old with an innovative business idea can receive a subsidy for starting a business. They are required to implement it in one of the five Eastern voivodeships of Poland. A startup can receive up to 100,000 PLN, but there are time limits on the offers.

Financing from JEREMIE.

Another EU program for business development. Available to those who do not meet the other programs, are at the beginning of startup development, and do not have a credit line or collateral for financing.

When studying government support programs for small businesses, it is worth starting with those that do not require repayment and only then considering other options.