Research allowance consulting: fees only on success.
Research allowance (Forschungszulage) consulting from Zulagenlotse only costs you on success: full support is success-based (10%) of the funding actually received – no fixed fee, no upfront risk. Alternatively, we review the application you prepared yourself at a fixed price of 900 € net (application review). All-in package incl. stage 2: also 10%.
Full support
10%
of the funding actually received (net). No fixed fee. Due only once the research allowance has economically reached you.
We prepare your BSFZ application end to end – you only pay on success.
Included:
- Free eligibility check up front
- Structuring the R&D project (novelty, risk, systematic approach)
- Drafting the portal fields in “research language” (incl. character limits)
- Tabular work plan / work packages framed as research hypotheses
- Clear separation of eligible vs. non-eligible activities
- Preparing the portal entries and agreeing the final version with you
- Handover to your tax advisor for claiming it with the tax office
Application review
€900
one-off fixed amount (net) per application for the professional review – no hidden costs.
You write the BSFZ application yourself – we review it professionally, give concrete feedback and make it ready to submit.
Included:
- Review of the project description & work packages
- Check for “research language instead of development language”
- Delineation check (eligible vs. non-eligible)
- Compliance with the portal character limits
- Concrete, prioritised feedback for the revision
The application review costs 900 € net per application. All information without guarantee. Estimate how high your funding may be in the calculator; the funding rates are explained by Amount & funding rates, and the process by the guide.
Are you a tax firm? We handle the BSFZ part on a white-label basis or reward your referral – on request incl. stage 2 from a single source (all-in package, also 10%). More on partnerships for tax firms →
The two offers compared
| Criterion | Full support | Application review |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 10% | €900 |
| For whom | Companies that want to set up their first application with no upfront risk and maximum evidence quality. | Companies that prepare their application themselves and want it professionally reviewed before submission. |
| Result | A submission-ready BSFZ application in line with the review guidelines – including the project description, work packages and evidence logic. | Your self-prepared application – professionally reviewed and ready to submit, with concrete wording and delineation suggestions. |
| Risk for you | No upfront risk – fee only when the money flows | Predictable fixed price |
How our fee model works
The rules come from our framework agreement on funding consulting – deliberately partnership-based and without fine print against you.
A genuine success basis
The 10% fee (net) applies exclusively to the funding actually received. There is no fixed fee for full support.
Payment only once the money flows
The fee only becomes due once the research allowance has been economically realised – through payout, a tax credit or an offset. For instalments we bill proportionally.
Shared risk
If the funding is not paid out at all or not in full, our claim is waived or reduced accordingly. We share the economic default risk until you receive the funds.
No success guarantee
This is a pure service contract. We work to the best of our ability but cannot guarantee the authorities’ official approval – so we do not promise any rates.
Transparency on the notice
You provide us with the grant, certification or assessment notice promptly – keeping the billing traceable and fair.
Fair term
The framework agreement can be terminated with four weeks’ notice to the end of the month. A client-protection clause safeguards the cooperation for year-based funding such as the research allowance.
Frequently asked questions about costs & fees
What does research allowance (Forschungszulage) consulting cost at Zulagenlotse?
Full support is purely success-based: 10% (net) of the funding amount actually received. There is no fixed fee and no upfront risk. Alternatively, we offer the application review of an application you prepared yourself at a fixed price of 900 € net.
Do I pay anything if the application is rejected?
With full support, no: if no funding is paid out, our fee does not apply. We share the economic risk of default until the money flows. With the application review, the agreed fixed price for the review applies.
When is the fee due?
Only once the research allowance has economically reached you – through payout, tax credit or offsetting. If funds are granted in tranches, we bill 10% pro rata per tranche. Invoices are payable within 14 days.
Is there a success guarantee?
No. This is a service contract; we cannot guarantee the official approval by the authorities. That is why we deliberately do not advertise with success rates, but with honest, verifiable transparency.
Do you also handle claiming it with the tax office?
The tax claim is reserved tax advice (StBerG). By default, we hand over the groundwork to your tax advisor in a structured form (BSFZ part success-based, 10%). On request, we take on the entire procedure from a single source – together with our partner tax firms (all-in package, success-based at the same rate of 10% – no surcharge for stage 2). If you don’t have a tax advisor, we connect you with a suitable firm.