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Business financial assistance. State, banks, investors - what to choose? How to get money from the state for free for business development

07 April. One of the areas of development of the Russian economy is the support of small businesses. Funds are allocated annually for these purposes. In 2016, there are several programs aimed at supporting small businesses. You will learn how to receive gratuitous assistance from the state, what documents will be required for this, from this article.

Why the amount of funding in 2016 was reduced

Due to the difficult economic situation in the country, the amount of funds allocated from the federal budget to support small businesses has been reduced. According to information received from the Ministry of Economic Development, 11 billion rubles were allocated from the federal budget in 2016 (for comparison, 20 billion rubles were allocated for these purposes in 2014, and 17 billion rubles in 2015). Therefore, in order to distribute funds among all subjects of Russia, competitive procedures will be carried out.

Due to the reduction in funding, the regions will have to identify priority areas of activity that require state support. The funds will be directed only to the most important areas of the regional economy: trade, agriculture, household and communal services, as well as innovation and social projects.

Despite this, every entrepreneur can count on assistance from the state. This is regulated by Federal Law No. 209-FZ of July 24, 2007 "On the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in the Russian Federation" and regulatory legal acts.

Different public funding programs differ in terms of budget, terms of issuance and duration.

Types of state support

In 2016, the following types of state support function in Russia:

  1. Infrastructural support (business incubators, small business development funds, etc.);
  2. Information assistance and consulting (training courses, seminars, webinars);
  3. Exhibitions and fairs (granting the right to free participation in such events, providing free exhibition equipment);
  4. Promotion of innovative developments;
  5. Registration of licenses, accounting support;
  6. Financial assistance (subsidies, benefits and grants).

Small business can also be supported by non-governmental organizations. However, entrepreneurs are most often interested in funds received from the state. However, many do not take into account the fact that much more funds are allocated for other types of support than for financial assistance. Let's look at the types of assistance provided to small businesses.

Business Development Grants

A grant is a gratuitous subsidy from the state for starting a business. Many entrepreneurs are willing to receive a grant, so demand exceeds supply. In this regard, in order to receive a grant, you will need to work hard, but it's worth it: the amount of the grant can be 300 - 500 thousand rubles - and this is an excellent support for small businesses.

In order to receive a grant for starting a business in 2016, you need to take part in the competition. Grants may also be distributed by charitable or investment funds. Entrepreneurs should carefully approach the choice of the project. You should choose only those projects that relate to your field of activity.

What documents are required to receive a grant in 2016

First of all, you need to register, then collect a set of documents:

  • Application;
  • A copy of the entrepreneur's passport;
  • A completed application form;
  • Higher education diploma (if any);
  • Copies of constituent documents;
  • Certificate of registration of a legal entity or individual entrepreneur;
  • Documents confirming the right to the premises (certificate of registration of ownership, lease agreement).

Important! Before each competition, the list of documents should be clarified, since this list may vary depending on the competition being held.

Subsidies for small businesses

If less than two years, you can safely apply for subsidies from the state for the development of small businesses. The maximum amount of the subsidy in 2016 is 500 thousand rubles.

What documents are required to receive a subsidy from the state

  • Application for a grant;
  • Feasibility Study (FS);
  • Business plan;
  • A copy of the certificate of state registration of a legal entity or individual entrepreneur;
  • Order on the appointment of a director and chief accountant;
  • Questionnaire of the head;
  • Certificate from the bank on the status of accounts;
  • Report on financial results for the last reporting period (accounting statements);
  • Copies of statutory documents.

Important! Subsidies are provided on the terms of cost co-financing. This means that only 50% of the costs are paid by the state, and you must pay the remaining 50% yourself.

Directions for spending the received subsidies

  1. Organization of new jobs;
  2. Purchase of machinery and equipment;
  3. Premises rental;
  4. Purchase of raw materials and supplies.

All expenses must be documented. The state conducts the selection and consideration of applications for subsidies throughout the year at least once every two months. In case of misuse of the allocated funds, the entrepreneur is obliged to return them in full to the budget.

Self-employment financing

This subsidy is provided by the state to unemployed citizens who are officially registered in the employment center. The amount of such financial assistance corresponds to the size of the annual unemployment benefit, that is, about 60 thousand rubles. If you organize your enterprise and give work to people who have the status of unemployed (officially registered with the employment center), you will receive the same amount for each employed person.

How to get self-employment financial assistance

  1. Draw up a competent business plan;
  2. Register officially IP;
  3. Receive funds;
  4. Prepare a report and attach to the report documents confirming the intended use of funds.

So, you have decided on the field of activity, and are ready to open your own business.

Where to begin

First of all, you should clarify what kind of state support programs operate in your region. This information is usually located on the website of the city administration or in the employment center.

Then you should get registered at the employment center.

In order to receive financial support, it will be necessary, of course, to spend a lot of effort on going through bureaucratic instances.

Documents required to obtain the status of unemployed

  • Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
  • Certificate or diploma;
  • Employment history;
  • Bank account opening agreement.

After that, an application form is filled out, which indicates that you want to become an entrepreneur and take the test.

After that, you need to protect your business plan. The effectiveness of your project will be evaluated by a special commission. The whole procedure is similar to an exam at a school or university. If an entrepreneur clearly knows how to make money in a crisis, his business plan looks realistic, then most likely the members of the commission will approve the project.

After the defense of the business plan was successful, you can apply for financial assistance. The application is accompanied by a business plan and other necessary documents. If your project is approved, you will be invited to sign an agreement (contract). After that, you can open an individual entrepreneur or register a legal entity. The last stage is the presentation of a certificate of registration of an individual entrepreneur or legal entity to an employment center. Receipts confirming the payment of state fees must also be attached to this certificate.

After completing all these procedures, funds will be credited to your account. Most importantly, do not forget that these funds can only be spent for their intended purpose.

Reimbursement of interest on a loan

Another type of state support is the reimbursement of interest on loans. Part of the interest on loans for the purchase of special equipment or machinery can be compensated from the state budget in the amount of 1/3 or 2/3 of the total rate. Cash is paid in the presence of documents confirming the payment of interest on loans.

Small business support programs exist in Russia. Not only that, they work. The main thing is to know where and how to receive gratuitous assistance from the state, as well as to have a desire to work in order to contribute to the development of the country's economy.

In each region of our country there are programs that provide various subsidies, compensations, benefits and other types of assistance. What forms of state support for entrepreneurs exist and how to use them? We will talk about this in our article.

To date, the most popular programs to help small businesses are:

  • business start-up subsidy for the unemployed;
  • business development subsidy for start-up entrepreneurs;
  • surety under credit and leasing agreements;
  • compensation of part of the interest on loans;
  • reimbursement of part of the costs under the leasing agreement;
  • issuance of loans at reduced rates;
  • reimbursement of expenses for participation in exhibitions and fairs;
  • tax incentives for start-ups and existing entrepreneurs.

Let's consider all these types of state support in more detail.

Start-up subsidy for the unemployed

If you are unemployed and want to try your hand at business, at first you can be helped by a subsidy from the employment center in the amount of 58,800 rubles. This type of state assistance is provided to unemployed citizens free of charge. In order to receive a subsidy, you need to contact the employment service at the place of residence, register for unemployment, write and defend a business plan. In some employment centers, you will additionally need to undergo a short training in the basics of entrepreneurship and psychological testing.

It is best if your future business will have a social focus and you will create one or more jobs. For example, you will be engaged in the manufacture of folk art products. Business ideas related to the production or sale of alcohol, the opening of a pawnshop, network marketing are not accepted for consideration. After defending the business plan before the commission and if it is approved, you conclude an agreement with the employment center to receive a subsidy. Please note that an individual entrepreneur or LLC should be registered only after the conclusion of the contract. It is necessary to follow this procedure, since the contract is concluded with you as an unemployed person, and not as an entrepreneur or legal entity.

Registration costs are also reimbursed by the state. Reimbursement is transferred after the fact, that is, you must pay for registration at your own expense, and then submit documents on payment to the employment center.

The amount of the subsidy may increase if you hire one or more unemployed people who are also registered in this employment center (+58,800 for each employee hired). This program is for sole proprietors only.

Within three months of receiving the grant, you must confirm that the funds have been spent in accordance with the approved business plan. If your business “holds on” for less than a year, the money will have to be returned to the state.

Subsidy for start-up entrepreneurs

For business development, you can get a more significant amount - 300,000 rubles (500,000 rubles for Moscow entrepreneurs). In order for you to be provided with such a subsidy, at least a year must pass from the date of registration of your individual entrepreneur or LLC. The money is issued after the protection of the business project, but on the terms of co-financing, that is, you invest 50-70% of your own funds, and the state compensates for the rest of your business development costs. You can spend the subsidy on the purchase of equipment, equipping jobs, purchasing raw materials, paying rent. Another condition for granting a subsidy is that your company does not owe taxes and insurance premiums. Irrevocable loans are most often issued to entrepreneurs who carry out socially important activities - they are engaged in consumer services, work in the field of education, healthcare, etc. For the spent public funds will need to report in detail. You can find out all the details in local governments or business support funds in your region.

Guarantee under credit and leasing agreements

Almost every region has guarantee funds that can become guarantors when an entrepreneur issues a loan or concludes an agreement with a leasing company. Such a guarantee is an additional advantage when obtaining a loan. For the service, the fund will have to pay 1.5-2% of the guarantee amount, which, as a rule, is 30-70% of the loan amount.

How to use the Guarantee Fund:

  1. Find out the requirements for borrowers on the fund's website or by phone.
  2. If you meet them, then specify which banks are partners of the fund. Select the bank you would like to borrow from.
  3. When contacting the bank, indicate that you would like the Guarantee Fund to act as your guarantor.
  4. If your loan application is approved by the bank, then together with the bank you need to prepare documents and an application to the guarantee fund.
  5. If the fund decides positively, a tripartite guarantee agreement is drawn up.
  6. You receive a loan and pay for the services of the guarantee fund.

The Guarantee Fund must be located in the same region where your business is registered.

Compensation of part of interest on loans

If you have taken a loan for business development in one of the Russian banks, you can compensate for part of the interest on the loan at the expense of the state. The amount of the subsidy depends on the current refinancing rate and the size of the loan. This type of support is valid in almost all regions and covers most activities.

Reimbursement of part of the costs under the leasing agreement

Another popular type of government assistance to small businesses is the compensation of part of the payments under leasing agreements. If you lease production equipment or vehicles, then you have the opportunity to return part of the funds. The maximum amount differs depending on the region: for example, in Moscow it is up to 5 million rubles. For more information, contact your local small business development department or business support funds in your area.

Issuance of loans at reduced rates

In many subjects of the Russian Federation, there are microfinance programs for small businesses that enable entrepreneurs to receive loans and short-term loans on favorable terms. As a rule, the loan amount is from 10 thousand to 1 million rubles for a period of 1-3 years. The interest rate varies from 8 to 10%. Some regions provide loans at a lower rate - 5% to entrepreneurs who work in the manufacturing or agricultural sector, provide household services, that is, are engaged in socially significant activities. In some cases, you can get a larger amount - up to 5 million for a longer period - up to 5 years.

To get a loan, contact the business support fund in your region. There you will be told what requirements the borrower must meet, what documents and possibly collateral are required to obtain a loan. Based on the documents and collateral provided, the fund's specialists will make a decision on issuing or refusing to issue a loan.

Reimbursement of expenses for participation in exhibitions and fairs

This type of state support for small businesses will allow you to reduce the cost of participation in exhibitions and fairs, that is, take the opportunity to present your product to a wide audience, find customers and partners, and exchange experience. The state can pay two thirds of your participation in such events - rent and delivery of equipment, registration fee. Travel, accommodation and food expenses are not reimbursed. The grant is granted once during the current financial year. The amount of the subsidy is from 25,000 to 300,000 rubles, depending on the region.

Tax incentives for start-ups and existing entrepreneurs

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020, the regions have the right to set a zero tax rate for 2 years for first-time registered individual entrepreneurs. This applies to entrepreneurs on the "imputation" and the patent, who work in the industrial, social, domestic or scientific fields. For example, in 2016 "tax holidays" operate in the Bryansk, Voronezh, Kostroma, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Omsk, Tula and many other regions.

Also, since 2016, as anti-crisis measures to support small businesses, in some regions there are reduced tax rates for entrepreneurs on the simplified tax system - from 1% and UTII - from 7.5%.

Other forms of state support for small businesses

In all regions of our country, training and advanced training of small businesses is carried out, which includes a variety of trainings, seminars, conferences. Professional accountants, lawyers and other specialists will advise you on any questions that inevitably arise both for beginners and those who have already been doing business for more than one year. These services are provided free of charge.

How can I find out about support measures in my city?

A detailed description of support measures can be found in the SME Business Navigator, a free resource for entrepreneurs. Here is a database of all state and municipal organizations that support small and medium-sized businesses in your region.

If after reading the article you still have any questions, ask them in the comments.

So, you've got an idea in your head that you're sure is good for society and will appeal to consumers. You think that it can bring you income. After careful planning, you need to get a financial base that will help bring the idea to life. Let's see what this financial base can be.

1. Personal funds

This method can undoubtedly be called the most reliable, since it does not require any loans from banks, which in times of crisis can only harm your company. The negative side of this method is that the development of the company is likely to take longer. But, as they say, hurry up - you make people laugh, so perhaps in your case you should not rush.

“We started with small personal savings and very small borrowed funds, also personal, so we developed slowly due to limited financial resources,” Natalia Storozheva, CEO of the Perspektiva Center for Business and Career Development, a teacher at the Russian School of Management, shares her experience. - In the first year of the company's existence, we had only three employees, in the fourth year - four. And only in the fourth or fifth year we began to recruit a team, because the money we earned could be directed to development. Fortunately, they did not take any loans, which may have saved the company in the crisis years of 2008 and 2015. Now Perspektiva employs a small team of 12 people, and it cannot be said that the company is developing rapidly, but steadily and progressively.”

Ilya Balakhnin, CEO and Managing Partner of Paper Planes Consulting, agrees with Natalia Storozheva: “If a business lacks its own funds at the start, don’t start at all. This means that it is not realistic or calculated erroneously. Rely on your own and only your own strength and do not try to catch the investor by the tail.

Alexander Trifonov, co-owner of the legal service 48Prav.ru, earned his first money with his team on the recommendations of lawyers. “At first we tried, we were useful, and then, when we found out that customers were willing to pay, we began to take money and reinvest it in the business — we spent it on channels to attract new customers, on IT infrastructure and on promotion in the target audience.”

2. Investor money

The next method is more risky than the previous one, and there are a number of reasons for this: finding an investor takes a lot of time, agreeing on all the conditions even more. You may find the perfect investor who wants to have too much control over your company. The most difficult thing in this situation is to reach a compromise.

According to Ilya Groshikov, managing partner of the Biplan marketing agency, reaching out to an investor is the most obvious and effective way to raise money for business development. “Of course, this is a difficult path that requires a lot of effort and luck. True, if your project is able to bring real profit, then you should not worry about the result, he is sure. - We were in a similar situation 7 years ago and put in a lot of effort to demonstrate our productivity to the investor. Successful cases of past projects and positive customer reviews helped. You can find a patron partner who will take your business under its wing, or you can get a loan from a bank. But it is worth remembering that in both cases you put yourself at great risk.

Alexey Menn from Sun Capital believes that for an early stage business, attracting a business angel helps to solve some of the problems, especially if it is a person who not only has the ability to invest in a project, but also the knowledge necessary to bring this project to a new level .

3. Funds

The golden mean is to find a fund and try to win a grant. Be confident in yourself and your idea, choose a suitable fund, prepare a presentation. According to Aleksey Menn, if a company has just started its work and uses technologies at least a little in its business, then it can go for financing in the IIDF (Internet Initiatives Development Fund). “IIDF provides companies with a little more than 1 million rubles. for a 7% share and allows you to take part in the acceleration program, in which business founders are actively taught (marketing, IT, finance, attracting investments, etc.). IIDF also provides space in co-working spaces,” says Menn. - At IIDF, for example, I got acquainted with the ParkApp project, in which I then invested. The founders of ParkApp received funding from the IIDF, created a prototype of their product that showed free parking spaces in any city in the world, and only then were able to receive significant funding ($800,000) from investors at a later stage.

The Moscow Seed Fund provides small businesses with a loan of 0.5-8 million rubles. for 3 years at 12% per annum. If after three years the company is unable to repay the loan, the debt will be converted into equity.

If we are talking about an innovative enterprise, it is quite realistic to receive a Skolkovo grant from 1 million to 50 million rubles. (there are different types of grants), which does not need to be returned. The Promsvyazbank Venture Fund is very active in financing projects from real business (although it is not entirely clear why they are called a venture fund, because they just do not invest in IT projects). But if you want to open a bakery, a clothing store, a coffee shop or a hairdresser, they are waiting for you there.

Alexander Trifonov does not advise taking bank loans for a business that does not exist, or for an idea. Funds and angel investors are suitable for this, he is sure. “For example, for projects that are somehow related to IT, the Fund for the Development of Internet Initiatives offers very interesting conditions, but even here, we would recommend that you first go through the correspondence accelerator and only then go to the full-time one.”

4. Crowdfunding and crowdinvesting

Crowdfunding is another option for raising money. It is especially suitable for creative projects in the field of music, literature, as well as projects from the media sphere. At least they occupy the main share of the Russian crowdfunding sector.

According to Alexey Menn, crowdfunding sites in some cases help to quickly raise the necessary funds to launch a product on the market. And such examples are not so few. “Recently, the Russian Nimb project team raised $150,000 in just a week to launch their project on the Kickstarter site,” Menn gives an example. “There are many analogues in Russia, in particular, Boomstarter.”

“The StartTrack crowdfunding platform will help small businesses attract collective investments from a range of business angels or start-up investors, both in debt and as equity financing,” says Alexey Menn. - More than 1,000 investors are registered on the site, who collectively invested over 400 million rubles. in various projects.

5. Regional support for small businesses

Starting entrepreneurs can count on state grants, property support at the regional level. To find out about all possible support measures and conditions for its provision, you can use the interactive navigator. For example, novice farmers in the Volgograd region can receive financial support in the form of a grant, the maximum amount of which is 1.5 million rubles.


Now in most credit institutions there are entire programs to support entrepreneurs - for medium and small businesses, including start-up businessmen. This method cannot be called popular, since, often, the conditions for such lending are quite stringent, for example, a high interest rate on a loan, strict requirements for collateral or credit history. It's scary for a new entrepreneur.

Although, it makes sense to study all the offers for loans and loans from different credit institutions, because it may turn out that you will find something suitable for yourself. Individual lending proposals (for example, consumer credit) should also be considered. Often the conditions of such loans are more simple.

2. Borrow from relatives and friends

This is one of the most common ways. It is good if you have friends or relatives who trust you and can lend money to start a business. So that relations with them do not deteriorate, you need to calculate everything and be confident in your abilities. Most likely, this option is appropriate if you need a little money. The main advantages of this option: you do not need to look for a guarantor, collect various documents, and, most importantly, you do not overpay interest.

3. State aid

At the moment there is a special program to support small businesses. . As a rule, these are courses for entrepreneurs in regional employment centers and the preparation of a business plan for your idea. If your business plan is accepted, you are guaranteed to get help- you are given a certain amount. It is also possible to receive a grant for a particular type of activity. Usually, this is considered a socially useful activity when you can benefit the state and the population.

4. Unions of entrepreneurs

Such organizations exist in almost every city. It can be either a department of the city administration or a special one created. fund to provide financial assistance. In Russia, the largest union is the Federal Fund for Support of Small Business. What can you expect when applying to this organization? The first is with favorable conditions. The second is the opportunity to attend all sorts of trainings, exchange of experience, advanced training. Thirdly, help in solving various difficulties that arise during your activity.

5. Independent search for an investor

The method, which is so developed in many states, is just beginning to gain popularity in our country. There are companies and people who have free funds and are ready to invest part of them in someone else's business in order to receive passive profit from their investments in the future.


To find such a person and get the necessary amount of money from him to fulfill your dream, you first need to draw up a business plan and be able to convince you of the success of your undertaking. But here it is necessary to take into account the fact that by attracting an investor, you will not become the sole owner of the business.

6. Earn on your own

This is the most reliable and useful way to find start-up capital. While you are an employee, earning and saving money, you will learn how to go to the goal and save. In this case, only pluses await you - you will not depend on the investor, you will not have to share your income with him, or from the bank, undertaking to pay the loan and interest, or from friends or relatives. By providing your own start, you will earn experience that will help you to stay as a businessman and grow your business successfully in the future.

Save yourself or - this is the first part of the upcoming undertaking. Next, you will need to overcome more than one obstacle on the way to the development of your enterprise. But those entrepreneurs who have made up their minds and gone all the way to the end know that the best thing to do is to do what you love. Decide on ideas and start with confidence!