Short on staff? The 中小企業省力化投資補助金 helps SMEs that face a labor shortage buy equipment that saves work. The simplest option is the カタログ注文型 (catalog type): you pick a product already registered in the official catalog and apply together with a registered seller.
Amounts (rules since 19 March 2026)
- Rate: up to 1/2 of the cost.
- Cap by headcount: up to 5: ¥5M (¥7.5M if you meet the wage target); 6–20: ¥7.5M (¥10M); 21+: ¥10M (¥15M).
- Wage target for the higher cap: raise the internal minimum wage by 3.0% and total payroll by 6% by the end of the project. Missing it without a valid reason reduces the subsidy.
- You can apply more than once until you reach the cap.
What is and isn't covered
- Covered: the catalog product price (machines, robots, dedicated software and systems) and installation, including transport, testing and master-data setup (マスタ設定).
- Not covered: anything bought before the grant decision (交付決定), used items, taxes, unrelated data entry, and fees for someone filing on your behalf.
- The plan must target productivity +3.0% a year for 3 years.
There is also a 一般型 (general type) for custom equipment, with its own rules and rounds on the official site.
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
The product comes from the catalog, but it still has to work with everything else: network, accounts, spreadsheets, management software and trained staff. KGA IT checks that your network and devices are ready, connects the new equipment to the systems you already use and automates what the catalog does not cover.
- Automation: from ¥49,800.
- App setup: from ¥3,000.
- System management: from ¥10,000/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.