KOMPASS funding for solo self-employed
Up to €4,500 towards your training — paid back to you afterwards, not deducted from the invoice. Here is who qualifies, how the process runs and where people trip up.
All figures checked against the official BMAS programme page, 21 September 2026.
Do you qualify?
Residence and business activity in Germany.
Counted from the start of your self-employment.
In employees — above that, KOMPASS does not apply.
One funded course per twelve-month period.
The route to funding — in this order
With a KOMPASS advice centre, in person or online. They write a consultation record, check your eligibility and suggest suitable training. Approach one centre only — multiple enquiries slow the whole process down.
The centre reviews your documents and issues the voucher. Only then book the training — do not enrol beforehand.
Within six months of the voucher being issued, at least 20 hours, with a certificate or proof of attendance.
Apply via the Z-EU-S portal at DRV Knappschaft-Bahn-See. They review and refund the eligible share — up to €4,500.
A programme that meets the criteria
The AI Masterclass runs 48 live hours across 16 weeks — comfortably above the 20-hour minimum and inside the six-month window KOMPASS requires.
€3,490 net · up to 90 % eligible for KOMPASS funding → your share from €349. The full amount is invoiced; the funding comes back to you as a reimbursement via DRV KBS.
For your consultation I prepare everything the advice centre asks for: syllabus, hours, learning objectives, price and proof of attendance. The decision is theirs, not mine.
KOMPASS is a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (ESF Plus). Whether a course is funded is decided case by case by a KOMPASS advice centre — there is no legal entitlement. A prior consultation with an advice centre is mandatory; always approach one centre only.
Frequently asked
Who can apply for KOMPASS?+
Solo self-employed people who live and work in Germany, have been active on the market for at least two years, run their self-employment as their main occupation and employ no more than one full-time equivalent. Funding is possible once within any twelve-month period.
How much is it, and how does the money reach me?+
The grant is up to €4,500. Importantly, it is a reimbursement, not a discount on the invoice. You pay for the training first and then apply for the partial refund through the Z-EU-S funding portal at Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See.
Which courses qualify?+
Courses of at least 20 hours that are completed within six months. What fits depends on your individual business need — digital skills are explicitly included. There is no central database of eligible courses and no KOMPASS certification: you select the course together with your advice centre.
Am I guaranteed to get the funding?+
No. There is no legal entitlement. Eligibility is decided case by case by the KOMPASS advice centre based on your individual needs assessment. On top of that, the monthly issuing of qualification vouchers is capped nationwide, so a quick decision cannot be promised. Plan for that.
Can I enrol before the paperwork is done?+
No, and this is the most common mistake. The voucher only covers training you have not yet registered for and that has not yet started. Consultation and voucher first, binding booking second.
Does the training run in English?+
Yes. Consulting and training run in German or English. Written material can be provided in English. If you would rather have the first conversation in Portuguese, that works too — see the Portuguese page.
Not sure whether you qualify?
In a free first call we go through the requirements and prepare your conversation with the advice centre.
Book a free first callGerman version: KOMPASS für Solo-Selbstständige
