Small Business Sustainability Subsidy: Selected Initiatives, Expenses, and Industries
In this article, I will introduce the application details of Small Business Sustainability Subsidies that were applied for and selected in the past, categorized by initiative, expense details, and business attributes.
I will also introduce the reasons for their selection and the key points included at the time of application.
1. Public relations activities through the creation of a YouTube program
■ Industry: Food and Beverage
■ Expense details: YouTube channel setup costs
Video shooting and editing costs
Travel expenses related to video shooting
■ Attributes: First year of business.
Operating a restaurant in front of a station in a certain regional city.
Store capacity: 3 tables, 10 counter seats.
Did not use the Startup Category because the amount was small.
■ Content included
It was 2021, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, I included market development utilizing "IT," which was a trend at the time, as the application content. Although the actual goal was to open a YouTube channel, that alone was weak, so I included content about "services available if you watch the video on YouTube." The key here is to make this part something that the secretariat cannot verify whether it was actually implemented or not. This is effective when you feel that the application content alone is weak.
2. Replacement of a large-format printer
■ Industry: Indoor/Outdoor Advertising Manufacturing
■ Expense details: Printer for sign printing
■ Attributes: Over 20 years in business
Operating a sign manufacturing business in a commuter town in a certain regional city
Capable of one-stop service from design to manufacturing of indoor and outdoor signs
Used the Wage Increase Category because the cost of the machinery was high
■ Content included
Created with a story of aiming for market development by doing work that could not be done with the printer previously owned. As for the content included, I stated that a new business would be developed for market development in addition to the existing business. I sprinkled in many phrases about further sales and profit improvement through the synergy between the new business and the existing business. Personally, I think the Small Business Sustainability Subsidy is the most cost-effective in terms of ease of application and performance reporting, as well as the amount, when purchasing machinery.
3. New store expansion
■ Industry: Food and Beverage
■ Expense details: Store renovation costs
Flyer data creation
Purchase of equipment
Tenant rent (This required correction after selection and became an ineligible expense.)
■ Attributes: 8th year of business
Operating a cafe in front of the station
Rented another tenant space in addition to the cafe tenant to open an izakaya where lunch and dinner can be eaten
Used the Wage Increase Category because the amount was high
■ Content included
This was the most difficult of all the applications I have made so far. Originally, another contractor had prepared the application, but they gave up and it came to me. The content included was that since the existing business only operated during the day, we aimed to improve sales and profits by operating at night, capturing a customer base that could not be acquired during the day. I will write about this in another article, but the performance report was truly difficult... There were various issues such as documents not being submitted by the deadline, and in the end, the payment was made in a way that the secretariat conceded.
I have introduced three cases this time.
Case 1 was an application content tailored to the situation at the time and was somewhat of a novelty. I personally feel that such cases are very easy to pass.
Between 2020 and 2022, I made many applications for restaurants. Looking at what the applicants had prepared, even for content where I thought "this might not pass..."
it was often selected smoothly, so there might be some connection.
Case 2 is a classic example of not only the Sustainability Subsidy but also subsidies in general. Purchasing machinery is a WIN-WIN for both the applicant and the government due to the subsidy system.
The applicant receives money, and when sales increase, they pay taxes. The supplier makes a profit by selling the machine and pays taxes. The government receives taxes from both parties. That is the mechanism.
Also, it is very easy when reporting performance. If you are planning to purchase expensive machinery, please consider applying for a subsidy.
Case 3 was a troublesome example. Using subsidies to buy various things or do construction... of course, that is good, but collecting materials for the performance report becomes incredibly difficult. Also, please be honest and upright when applying for subsidies. If there is even a shadow of doubt, the secretariat will see through it. Apply for what you can do, and do not apply for what you cannot. This is the iron rule.
How was it?
This time, I introduced three selected cases of the Small Business Sustainability Subsidy.
I hope this article will be helpful for those who are considering applying.
Next time, it will be the "Performance Reporting Edition," which might be even more difficult than the application itself.
Thank you for reading to the end.