Not all public support is a subsidy. Japan Finance Corporation (日本政策金融公庫, JFC) is a government lender for small businesses, including those just starting out. Since subsidies are paid after you spend, a JFC loan is often what lets you fund the project until the reimbursement arrives.
新規開業・スタートアップ支援資金 (new business and startup fund)
- Who: people about to start a business or within about 7 years of starting, with a viable business plan (JFC asks for a 創業計画書).
- Limit: ¥72 million.
- Terms: equipment up to 20 years and working capital up to 10 years, both with up to 5 years' grace.
- Collateral and guarantees: discussed case by case; a special scheme can waive the owner's personal guarantee.
Special rates (特別利率)
The base rate is lowered for those who qualify, for example:
- women, people under 35 or 55 and over;
- foreign entrepreneurs under the 外国人起業活動促進事業 program, when starting their business;
- people who completed a city-certified startup course (認定特定創業支援等事業) and hold the certificate;
- people moving from Greater Tokyo to start a business in the regions, among others.
Tips
Bring a plan with realistic numbers and show how you will sell: a website, Google presence and contact channels all help. The decision is JFC's and may not match what you asked for.
Note: rules, amounts and deadlines change every fiscal year and every round. This article summarizes the official sources linked here as of publication and is not legal or tax advice. Always check the latest guidelines (公募要領) before signing any contract.
How KGA IT helps
A business plan is more convincing when it shows how customers will find you. KGA IT builds the new company's multilingual website on the ¥5,000/month plan with no setup fee, sets up email, domain and Google Business Profile, and helps estimate IT costs for your 創業計画書.
- Website plan: ¥5,000/month, no setup fee, no lock-in, and the code is yours.
- Website build (one-off): from ¥49,800.
- Business IT plan: ¥49,800/month.
- Digital consulting: from ¥30,000.
KGA IT is not a registered support provider (支援事業者) for any program and does not file applications on your behalf. What we do is handle the IT side: choosing and setting up tools, writing clear quotes, building your website, security and automation, and preparing the technical documents for you or your advisor.
Prices include tax. See the pricing page and all services. We work in 9 languages from Kosai, Shizuoka.
Official sources
Talk to KGA IT
The first consultation is free, with no obligation. Tell us what you want to do and we will show you which IT costs could fit your plan and what they cost. Reach us through the contact page, LINE or WhatsApp.