Digitalization, rising marketing costs, internationalization, new sales channels, and increasingly complex e-commerce processes present many companies with the same question: Where should we invest – and which measures will truly move us forward?
This is precisely where external business consulting can help. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the program "Funding for Business Consultations for SMEs" offers the opportunity to have a portion of the consulting costs covered by a government grant.
Depending on the company's location, a grant of up to 80% or a maximum of €2,800 in funding is currently possible.
merconic is registered as a consulting firm with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) for this funding program.
What is BAFA Consulting Funding?
The funding program aims to facilitate access to professional external consulting for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Funding is provided for individually and conceptually conducted consultations on economic, financial, personnel, and organizational aspects of business management.
Thus, the funding can be particularly interesting when a company is facing an important strategic decision: for example, in the further development of its e-commerce business, the digitalization of internal processes, internationalization, or the question of how existing sales and marketing structures can be made more efficient.
The funding is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises as well as freelancers with a registered office or branch in Germany, provided that the respective requirements of the funding program are met.
How much is the funding?
The amount of the grant depends in particular on the location of the consulting company.
| Company Location | Funding Rate | Maximum Grant |
| Old Federal States, Berlin and Leipzig Region | 50 % | €1,750 |
| New Federal States excluding Berlin and Leipzig Region, as well as Lüneburg Region and Trier Region | 80 % | €2,800 |
This can significantly reduce the company's own contribution for sound strategic advice.
It is important to note: The funding is not awarded by merconic. Whether a company is eligible for funding and whether the grant is approved is decided by the responsible authority as part of the funding process.
Which e-commerce topics can be suitable for funded consulting?
The funding is not a classic funding for the implementation of a new online shop or the purchase of specific services. The focus is rather on individual business consulting and the development of a concrete action plan.
For e-commerce companies, this can mean, for example, that the current situation is first analyzed and then a robust strategy for further development is developed.
At merconic, topics such as e-commerce strategy, optimization of the customer journey, internationalization, improvement of processes and system landscapes, further development of the sales strategy, or a structured digitalization roadmap can be considered.
A typical result of such consulting is therefore not simply a new Shopify shop, but a concrete action plan: Where does the company stand today? What weaknesses exist? What potential is there? Which measures should be prioritized? And how should the implementation look in the coming months?
Clearly separating consulting and implementation
For BAFA funding, the distinction between consulting and implementation is particularly important.
A strategic analysis of the existing shop with recommendations for improvement can, for example, be part of a business consultation. The subsequent technical implementation of the measures in the Shopify theme, however, is a separate service.
The same applies, for example, to an internationalization strategy: The analysis of suitable markets, processes, and system requirements can be part of a consultation. The subsequent setup of additional Shopify Markets, translations, or advertising campaigns should be considered separately.
At merconic, we therefore structure such projects into two clearly separate phases if required:
Consulting: Analysis, target vision, strategy, recommendations for action, prioritization, and roadmap.
Implementation: e.g., Shopify Development, Tracking, Email Marketing, Performance Marketing, or System Integration.
This creates a reliable basis for decision-making. Subsequently, the company can decide which measures should actually be implemented.
What are the advantages of the funding?
The biggest advantage is, of course, the financial support. A portion of the costs for external expertise can be cushioned by the grant.
At least as important, however, is the opportunity to first strategically and independently consider larger e-commerce decisions before their later implementation.
Instead of immediately investing in a relaunch, a new app landscape, or additional marketing channels, it can first be clarified where the greatest potential actually lies.
Especially with Shopify companies, we often see that no single tool or single marketing measure solves the problem. Rather, the interaction of shop, conversion rate, product data, tracking, CRM, email marketing, ERP, internationalization, and internal processes is crucial.
Structured consulting creates transparency here and helps to prioritize investments.
How does BAFA-funded consulting work?
The process follows a clear procedure. It is particularly important that consulting cannot simply begin before the corresponding requirements are met.
- Initial consultation and examination of the consulting topic: Together, we clarify which question is to be investigated and whether the project is fundamentally suitable for the BAFA program.
- Funding application by the company: The company submits the application via the designated BAFA application platform. For companies that have not been active in the market for at least one year at the time of application, a free information meeting with a regional partner is additionally planned.
- Wait for information on the start of the measure: Only after the company has received the corresponding information may the consulting contract be concluded or the consulting begin. Retroactive funding is not possible.
- Execution of the consultation: As part of the consultation, we analyze the initial situation, jointly define the goals, and develop concrete recommendations for action and an action plan. The funded consultation is conducted as an individual consultation and, according to the current funding conditions, may not exceed a duration of five days.
- Consulting report and proof of use: After completion of the consultation, the necessary documents for the proof of use are prepared. The consultation must be completed within the planned funding period.
- Review and payment of the grant: The company first pays the consulting costs in full. Subsequently, the documents are reviewed, and the approved grant is paid out after the completion of the funding process.
How often can a company use the funding?
Within the current validity period of the funding program, an eligible company can have several consultations funded.
According to the currently applicable conditions, a maximum of five completed consultations within the term of the funding guidelines and a maximum of two consultations per year are possible.
This can make it useful, for example, to treat different strategic questions as independent consulting projects.
What is not funded?
Not every consulting or agency service falls under the funding program.
Seminars and workshops, in particular, are not eligible for funding. Also excluded are, among other things, consultations that primarily deal with legal, insurance, or tax issues, are predominantly concerned with funding, or aim at the acquisition of goods and services offered by the consulting company itself.
Therefore, we clarify how the consulting project can be meaningfully delimited even before the start of the project.
BAFA Consulting with an E-commerce Focus
As a Shopify and e-commerce agency, we deal daily with the question of how digital business models can be sustainably further developed.
We not only look at the shop itself but the entire e-commerce structure: from customer journey and conversion rate to product data and internationalization, to CRM, marketing, tracking, and connected systems.
In the context of business consulting, it is therefore not about selling as many individual measures as possible. The goal is rather a clear answer to the question:
Which measures will truly advance the company in the coming months – and in what order should they be implemented?
Check BAFA funding without obligation
Would you like to develop your Shopify shop further, enter new markets, or fundamentally review your e-commerce processes?
Then we can clarify together which consulting topic makes sense and whether BAFA consulting funding could fundamentally be considered for your company.
→ Discuss funding opportunities and consulting without obligation
Note: merconic is registered as a consulting firm with BAFA in the "Funding for Business Consultations for SMEs" program. The actual eligibility for funding and the approval of a grant are checked by the competent authorities. Funding cannot be guaranteed.