INQA Coaching: Costs, Process and What Companies Really Expect

INQA coaching covers 80 percent of the costs for up to twelve consulting days, the maximum rate per consulting day is EUR 1,200 net. At full scope, that means: EUR 14,400 in consulting value, of which EUR 11,520 is the grant and EUR 2,880 is the own contribution. The program is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the European Social Fund Plus. It is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises that want to change their work organization in the course of digitalization and AI.

What does INQA coaching actually cost?

The calculation is clearly regulated in the funding guideline: a maximum of twelve consulting days of eight hours each, a daily rate of at most EUR 1,200 net, of which the program pays 80 percent. The own contribution of 20 percent remains with the company, plus additional costs such as travel expenses, which are explicitly not eligible for funding. Anyone who needs fewer than twelve days pays correspondingly less. Important for the calculation: the own contribution is a net amount, the value added tax on the consulting invoice is added on a pass-through basis for companies entitled to deduct input tax.

How does the coaching process work?

• Initial consultation: The entry point is a regional INQA advisory center. The conversation there is free of charge, checks eligibility for funding and, in the best case, ends with the INQA coaching voucher.
• Coach selection: The company chooses the coach itself from the pool of authorized INQA coaches at inqa.de. The advisory centers are deliberately not allowed to recommend anyone.
• Coaching phase: Up to seven months after the voucher is issued, structured into an initial phase, an innovation phase and a learning phase. Work is done agilely with a lab team that also includes employees, not just management.
• Conclusion: Around three to six months after the coaching, an evaluation meeting takes place at the advisory center.

Who receives the coaching voucher?

Eligible to apply are companies with fewer than 250 employees and a maximum turnover of 50 million euros, that have been active in the market for at least two years and had at least one full time employee subject to social security contributions in the last financial year. Excluded, among others, are companies that themselves provide consulting on personnel or organizational issues. A further requirement is a genuine need for change in work organization that is linked to the company's digital transformation: this is exactly where AI projects come in, from a new document workflow to the introduction of AI assistants in day to day business.

Is NordFlux an authorized INQA coach?

INQA coaching may only be carried out by authorized coaches who have gone through a multi stage review process at the INQA Coaching Center. NordFlux is not one of them, and the application window for new coaches is already closed for 2026. What we offer: assessing whether your project fits the program before you invest time, and after the coaching taking over the technical implementation when the concepts are to become concrete digital employees. For conceptual consulting outside the INQA framework, other funding pots are worth considering, for example the BAFA consulting grant with an 80 percent subsidy in the new federal states, more on this in the AI consulting.

Frequently asked questions about INQA coaching

What does INQA coaching cost at full scope?

With twelve consulting days at the maximum rate of EUR 1,200 net, this results in a consulting value of EUR 14,400. The program covers 80 percent, i.e. EUR 11,520, the company's own contribution is EUR 2,880 net. Travel costs and materials are not eligible for funding and may be added on top.

How long does an INQA coaching take in total?

The actual coaching phase covers up to seven months after the coaching voucher is issued. With the initial consultation beforehand and the evaluation meeting three to six months after completion, companies should expect a total of around one year from first contact to completion.

Is INQA coaching still running in 2026?

Yes, the program is running, the funding guideline is limited until the end of 2027 and vouchers are being issued continuously through the advisory centers. For companies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the situation is even particularly favorable: according to the official ESF announcement for the 2026 application round, MV was explicitly designated a priority region because few coaches had been available there so far.

Where can I find an authorized INQA coach?

The official coach search with a map is available at inqa.de. Only authorized coaches are listed there, currently more than 1,500 across the entire federal territory. The company makes the selection itself, the advisory centers are obliged to remain neutral.