Subsidies Selection Consulting

A certified management consultant with national qualifications will consult with your company, helping to identify challenges and jointly develop solutions and growth strategies.

We will identify appropriate and highly obtainable subsidies that can be utilized to address your company's challenges.

Consulting by Certified SME Consultants × Application Filing Services by Administrative Scriveners

The selection and application preparation for subsidies best suited to solving your company's challenges and realizing your strategies will be handled by a certified professional in business consulting. The actual subsidy application process will be handled by a certified administrative scrivener.

With these two nationally certified experts providing unified support, we ensure a smooth process from subsidy application to approval and utilization.

Starting Consultation

For foreign entrepreneurs operating businesses in Japan, our team of certified professionals — including a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant and a Licensed Administrative Scrivener — provides one-stop support for subsidy utilization.

We offer expert guidance tailored to the unique challenges foreign business owners face in Japan. Whether it is business improvement, operational efficiency, or launching new ventures, we identify the most suitable public subsidies and support the entire process — from application preparation to approval.

By maximizing the use of subsidies, we help reduce financial burdens and drive sustainable business growth. Our goal is to empower your business and strongly support the realization of your vision in Japan.

Major Subsidies and Overview

Representative public subsidy programs for SMEs include the Manufacturing Subsidy, IT Implementation Subsidy, Business Restructuring Subsidy, Subsidy for Sustaining Small Enterprises, SME Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy, and SME New Business Entry Subsidy. All of these are nationwide, competitive programs offered by the government (such as METI and SME Agency). The following is an overview of each program.

• Manufacturing Subsidy (Manufacturing, Commerce, and Service Productivity Subsidy)
  • Eligible sectors: Not limited to manufacturing; a wide range of SMEs in commerce and services are eligible.
  • Purpose: Supports capital investment and system implementation contributing to productivity improvement, such as innovative product/service development and overseas expansion.
  • Main requirements: Applicants must submit a business plan and achieve growth targets such as increased added value or wages within 3–5 years after the project. Companies with 21+ employees are subject to extra requirements such as “work-life balance support.” Business plans must be confirmed by a certified support agency.
  • Subsidy amount: Two categories based on project scale.
    Regular category (domestic): JPY 7.5–25 million depending on employee size.
    Global category (for overseas expansion): up to JPY 30 million.
  • Subsidy rate: SMEs 1/2, small businesses 2/3
    
• IT Implementation Subsidy (Service Productivity IT Implementation Support Program)
  • Eligible sectors: All SMEs across industries, including food service, accommodation, retail, wholesale, healthcare, nursing care, manufacturing, and construction.
  • Purpose: Promotes operational efficiency and digital transformation through IT tools such as software and cloud services.
  • Main requirements: Must collaborate with a registered IT vendor to implement eligible IT tools.
    Higher subsidy limits apply if multi-function software (e.g., accounting, ordering, payment) is selected.
    Application types vary, including support for invoice compliance, cybersecurity, and multi-company collaboration.
  • Subsidy amount: Covers up to 2/3 of IT tool introduction costs (3/4 under certain conditions).
    Maximum subsidy: JPY 3.5 million.
    Step system: “Up to JPY 500,000 subsidy rate 4/5 (5/6 for micro businesses), JPY 500,000–3.5 million at 2/3.”
    
• Business Restructuring Subsidy
  • Eligible sectors: SMEs and mid-sized companies headquartered in Japan, no industry restriction. Both corporations and sole proprietors included (businesses with zero employees not eligible).
  • Purpose: Supports bold business restructuring such as diversification, business model shifts, domestic relocation, and strengthening of supply chains in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Emphasizes market development and challenges in new technologies/services.
  • Main requirements: Business plans must be verified by a certified support organization.
    Plans must target value-added and wage growth within 3–5 years, as well as minimum wage requirements.
    Multiple categories exist (growth field entry, GX type, wage increase type) with varying conditions.
  • Subsidy amount: Maximum depends on company size and application type.
    Regular category: JPY 15–70 million.
    Special/GX categories offer higher limits.
    Subsidy rate: 1/2 for SMEs (may increase to 2/3 under certain conditions).
    
• Subsidy for Sustaining Small Enterprises
  • Eligible sectors: Small businesses within chambers of commerce or industry associations.
    Examples: Wholesale, retail, service businesses (except lodging/entertainment) with ≤5 employees, and manufacturing/other industries with ≤20 employees.
  • Purpose: Supports market development and growth of small-scale local businesses (typically ≤5 employees in retail/service, ≤20 in manufacturing and others).
  • Main requirements: Create a business plan (e.g., sales channel development) and obtain certification from the local chamber of commerce. Costs such as advertising, equipment, outsourcing, and travel must align with the approved plan.
  • Subsidy amount: Regular maximum JPY 500,000 at 2/3 rate.
    Additional support available for wage increases or invoice compliance (up to an extra JPY 0.5–1.5 million, max JPY 2.5 million).
    Startup track: up to JPY 2 million.
    Disaster recovery track and joint business framework also available.
    
    
• SME Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy (General type)
  • Eligible sectors: All SMEs. Purpose: Supports automation/digital investment, including AI, robotics, and DX, to make workplace innovations feasible. Covers a wide range of investments such as automation equipment in production sites and IT systems.
  • Main requirements: “Catalog type” allows selection from standard equipment. “General type” covers customized and combined equipment. Submission of a labor-saving plan is required.
  • Subsidy amount: Maximum depends on workforce size.
    ≤5 employees: JPY 7.5 million (JPY 10 million with wage-raise exception).
    6–20: JPY 15 million (20 million).
    21–50: JPY 30 million (40 million).
    51–100: JPY 50 million (65 million).
    101+: JPY 80 million (100 million).
    No lower limit (but applications must exceed JPY 5 million).
    Subsidy rate: SMEs 1/2, small/micro or turnaround businesses 2/3.
    
    
• SME New Business Entry Subsidy
  • Eligible sectors: SMEs engaging in new business development. No restrictions by industry; applies to both manufacturing and services if new business plans are approved.
  • Purpose: Promotes SME challenges in new markets and high value-added business fields by supporting capital investment for diversification. Requires growth-oriented plans including expansion and wage increases.
  • Main requirements: Must qualify as a “new business entry” plan.
    Plans must anticipate ≥4% annual average growth in added value over the plan period, along with wage increases and minimum wage compliance.
    Verification by a certified support institution is mandatory.
  • Subsidy amount: Maximum depends on employee size.
    ≤20 employees: JPY 25 million (JPY 30 million with wage-raise exception).
    21–50: JPY 40 million (50 million).
    51–100: JPY 55 million (70 million).
    101+: JPY 70 million (90 million).
    Minimum subsidy JPY 7.5 million. Subsidy rate 1/2.
    

There are various subsidy programs available, but their purposes and application requirements can be complex. Even if you apply, there is no guarantee of approval. Moreover, creating business plans solely to fit a subsidy’s requirements can sometimes hinder your company’s core growth strategy.

First, we carefully review your company’s current situation and work with you to identify the most suitable subsidies. Our experts provide seamless support from application preparation to approval and utilization. When needed, we also offer consulting to address broader business challenges.

The first consultation is free of charge, so you can approach us with confidence. Let’s explore the best subsidy opportunities for your business together.

Please also refer to the following information pages.