What kind of assistance small businesses can get in 2023: 5 measures to which you are entitled

Who can count on help

A business is considered small when its annual turnover does not exceed 800 million rubles, and the number of employees is 100 people. Support is usually aimed at priority sectors for the state, for example, IT, agriculture or tourism. Their list may vary in different regions.

By the way, if an entrepreneur has already participated in state assistance programs, then it is taken into account how he fulfilled their conditions. For example, a company owner who received a targeted subsidy for the purchase of equipment, but spent it on renting a room, will not be able to claim new benefits.

What types of assistance exist

1. Grants for starting a business

This is targeted funding that can only be spent on launching your own business. To get the money, you need to contact the local authority, make an application and attach a business plan. The centers will help to prepare the correct appeal "My business" — there are such in every region.

If the future business owner is under 25 years old, he/she can count on a special grant for young entrepreneurs — from 100,000 to 500,000 rubles (or up to 1 million rubles if the company operates in the Arctic zone). To get such help, you need:

• Check the company's accounts. They should not have debts on taxes and contributions of more than 1,000 rubles.
• To be trained in the basics of entrepreneurship. This can be done for free in the "My Business" centers.
• Invest at least 25% of your money. For example, if you want to purchase equipment for a grant, then you must pay for a quarter of its cost yourself.

You can get a grant at the place of business registration. At the same time, the age of the company does not matter.

2. Loan assistance

Most of the benefits for small entrepreneurs are associated with bank loans. All loans under such programs are targeted. Several types of support are provided.

• Loans at preferential rates. Under the program from the Bank of Russia you can get up to 2 billion rubles at a rate of 11.5%, under the program The Ministry of Economic Development — up to 500 million at 10.25%. If the company is engaged in the manufacturing industry, processing of agricultural products or hotel business, then the conditions of the loan are as follows: up to 500 million rubles at a rate of 4.5%.
• Guarantee support for loans. We are talking about loans for which you can get a state guarantee. Conditions vary from organization to organization, but there is a general requirement: a business applying for such assistance should not deal with minerals and excisable goods. A guarantee can be obtained from the federal SME Corporation, as well as from regional organizations.
• Loan at a reduced rate. When money is needed urgently, and there is no time to collect documents for a full-fledged loan, then you can get a micro loan at a favorable rate. To do this, you will have to contact a state organization, having previously checked whether it is in the register of the Bank of Russia. Interest rates for small businesses on a microloan average 6%, but can be found lower. Therefore, before making a deal, compare the terms of different creditors.

3. Subsidies

This is government funding, which, unlike a loan, does not need to be repaid. It is issued on a competitive basis and only for a specific purpose, for example, the purchase of equipment or raw materials. The amount of subsidies depends on the region and the specific state support program. You can find the necessary information on the portal for small and medium-sized businesses in a particular region. The list with their addresses and contacts is on the portal "My business".

4. Rental benefits

You can not get them for any room. First of all, entrepreneurs will be offered to choose a suitable area in existing technology parks and business incubators. This may be more useful than an independent search — the owner of the company will receive a ready-made infrastructure and fresh repairs. By the way, the self-employed can also apply for such assistance.

Detailed information about the benefits is available on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development of a particular region. And you can also request it in the "My Business" centers.

5. Training and consulting

There are several ways to upgrade your business skills for free. Online classes are presented, for example, on the portal "My Business" and digital SME platform. Also, suitable programs, courses and trainings are available on the website of the SME corporation. In the regions, training can be done in local funds to support small and medium-sized businesses.

Sometimes business owners need situational help, for example, to draw up a complex contract with a supplier or calculate taxes. You can also get free advice on legal, personnel, tax and accounting issues at the My Business centers.