# Pontia > Start a business or find work on your benefit, without putting it at risk. Free planning app and plain-language guides to the official start-up and job-search rules in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the US. ## Key facts - United Kingdom: 12 months, UC start-up period, no minimum income floor (source: Universal Credit start-up period, https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit; checked 25 September 2026) - United Kingdom: £25,000, Start Up Loan, no fees (source: Start Up Loans, https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan; checked 25 September 2026) - United Kingdom: £5,000, King’s Trust grant for ages 18 to 30 (source: The King’s Trust Enterprise programme, https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/how-we-can-help/support-starting-business; checked 25 September 2026) - Ireland: 100%, of your payment in year 1 on BTWEA (source: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/; checked 25 September 2026) - Ireland: €2,500, Enterprise Support Grant (source: Enterprise Support Grant, https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/enterprise-support-grant/; checked 25 September 2026) - Ireland: €50,000, Microfinance Ireland start-up loan (source: Microfinance Ireland Start-Up Loan, https://microfinanceireland.ie/startup-loan/; checked 25 September 2026) - Germany: 300 €, Gründungszuschuss im Monat, bis zu 15 Monate (source: Gründungszuschuss, https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/arbeitslos-arbeit-finden/arbeitslosengeld/gruendungszuschuss-beantragen; checked 25 September 2026) - Germany: 24 Monate, Einstiegsgeld zusätzlich zum Grundsicherungsgeld (source: Einstiegsgeld, https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/grundsicherung/arbeit-finden/einstiegsgeld-selbststaendigkeit; checked 25 September 2026) - Germany: 165 €, im Monat frei beim ALG-Nebenerwerb (source: Arbeitslosengeld mit Nebentätigkeit (unter 15 Stunden), https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/arbeitslos-arbeit-finden/arbeitslosengeld/das-muessen-sie-beachten/nebenjob-und-arbeitslosengeld; checked 25 September 2026) - France: 60 %, de vos droits ARE restants versés en capital (ARCE) (source: ARCE, https://www.francetravail.fr/candidat/je-creereprends-une-entreprise/les-aides-financieres-creation-d/aide-a-la-reprise-et-a-la-creati.html; checked 25 September 2026) - France: 75 %, des cotisations normales avec l’ACRE (source: ACRE, https://entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/F11677; checked 25 September 2026) - France: 0 %, prêt d’honneur, sans garantie (source: Prêt d’honneur, https://bpifrance-creation.fr/encyclopedie/financements/financement-fonds-propres/pret-dhonneur; checked 25 September 2026) - Spain: 100 %, del paro pendiente en un pago único (source: Capitalización del paro (pago único), https://www.sepe.es/HomeSepe/autonomos/capitaliza-tu-prestacion.html; checked 25 September 2026) - Spain: 270 días, cobrando paro siendo autónomo (source: Compatibilizar paro y autónomo, https://www.sepe.es/HomeSepe/prestaciones-desempleo/cobrando-prestacion-subsidio-desempleo/trabajo-como-autonomo.html; checked 25 September 2026) - Spain: 12 meses, de tarifa plana de autónomos (source: Tarifa plana de autónomos, https://www.seg-social.es/wps/portal/wss/internet/Trabajadores/CotizacionRecaudacionTrabajadores/10721/10724/1320/1322; checked 25 September 2026) - Italy: 70%, della NASpI anticipata subito all’accoglimento (source: NASpI anticipata, https://www.inps.it/it/it/inps-comunica/dossier/la-naspi/naspi-anticipata.html; checked 25 September 2026) - Italy: 40.000 €, voucher Resto al Sud 2.0, dai 18 ai 34 anni (source: Resto al Sud 2.0, https://www.invitalia.it/incentivi-e-strumenti/resto-al-sud-20; checked 25 September 2026) - Italy: 5%, di imposta per 5 anni con il forfettario (source: Regime forfetario (5% per nuove attività), https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-/infogen-regime-forfetario-le-regole-2020-; checked 25 September 2026) - Netherlands: 6 maanden, Startersregeling WW, bedrijfsinkomen niet gekort (source: Startersregeling WW, https://www.uwv.nl/nl/eigen-bedrijf-starten/startperiode; checked 25 September 2026) - Netherlands: 12 maanden, voorbereiden met behoud van bijstand (Bbz) (source: Bbz – levensonderhoud voor starters, https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/bijstand-voor-zelfstandigen-bbz/vraag-en-antwoord/kan-ik-als-startende-ondernemer-met-een-bijstandsuitkering-gebruikmaken-van-het-bbz; checked 25 September 2026) - Netherlands: € 2.123, startersaftrek bovenop de zelfstandigenaftrek (source: Zelfstandigenaftrek en startersaftrek, https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/zakelijk/winst/inkomstenbelasting/veranderingen-inkomstenbelasting-2026/ondernemersaftrek-2026/zelfstandigenaftrek-2026; checked 25 September 2026) - United States: 5 states, pay unemployment while you build (SEA) (source: Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP), New York, https://dol.ny.gov/SEAP; Self-Employment Assistance, Oregon, https://unemployment.oregon.gov/self-employment; Self-Employment Assistance Program, Mississippi, https://mdes.ms.gov/i-need-a-job/job-searching-resources/self-employment-assistance-program/; Pathway to Work (self-employment), New Hampshire, https://www.nhes.nh.gov/individuals/pathway-work; Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP), Washington, https://esd.wa.gov/jobs-and-training/job-training-support/self-employment-assistance-program-seap; checked 25 September 2026) - United States: $50,000, SBA Microloan (source: SBA Microloan, https://www.sba.gov/loans/microloans; checked 25 September 2026) - United States: 9 months, SSDI trial work period (source: SSDI trial work period (self-employed), https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/20/404.1592; checked 25 September 2026) ## Key pages - [All countries compared](https://pontia.xyz/start-a-business-on-benefits-by-country/): every official route side by side - [Start your business on Universal Credit.](https://pontia.xyz/): United Kingdom, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Universal Credit job search, without the admin](https://pontia.xyz/universal-credit-job-search/): United Kingdom, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Universal Credit self-employed calculator](https://pontia.xyz/universal-credit-self-employed-calculator/): See your start-up period and the minimum income floor in 30 seconds. - [Start your business and keep your payment.](https://pontia.xyz/ie/): Ireland, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Genuinely seeking work, made simple](https://pontia.xyz/ie/genuinely-seeking-work/): Ireland, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator](https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/): See what you’d keep over 2 years, plus the Enterprise Support Grant. - [Gründe dein Business. Mit Förderung vom Amt.](https://pontia.xyz/de/): Germany, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Eigenbemühungen nachweisen, ohne Zettelwirtschaft](https://pontia.xyz/de/eigenbemuehungen-nachweisen/): Germany, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Gründungszuschuss-Rechner](https://pontia.xyz/de/gruendungszuschuss-rechner/): Sieh in 30 Sekunden, was du in 15 Monaten bekommst. - [Créez votre entreprise avec vos droits ARE.](https://pontia.xyz/fr/): France, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Recherche active d’emploi : vos démarches prêtes à justifier](https://pontia.xyz/fr/recherche-active-emploi/): France, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Simulateur ARCE ou maintien de l’ARE](https://pontia.xyz/fr/simulateur-arce/): Comparez capital et versements mensuels en 30 secondes. - [Emprende con tu paro.](https://pontia.xyz/es/): Spain, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Búsqueda activa de empleo, sin papeleo](https://pontia.xyz/es/busqueda-activa-de-empleo/): Spain, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Calculadora: capitalizar o compatibilizar el paro](https://pontia.xyz/es/calculadora-capitalizar-paro/): Compara pago único y cobrar mientras trabajas en 30 segundos. - [Avvia la tua attività con la tua NASpI.](https://pontia.xyz/it/): Italy, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Ricerca attiva di lavoro con la NASpI, senza fatica](https://pontia.xyz/it/ricerca-attiva-lavoro-naspi/): Italy, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Calcolo NASpI anticipata 2026](https://pontia.xyz/it/calcolo-naspi-anticipata/): Scopri quanto ricevi subito e dopo, in 30 secondi. - [Start je bedrijf vanuit je uitkering.](https://pontia.xyz/nl/): Netherlands, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Sollicitatieplicht WW, zonder gedoe](https://pontia.xyz/nl/sollicitatieplicht-ww/): Netherlands, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Starten vanuit de WW: bereken het](https://pontia.xyz/nl/starten-vanuit-ww-berekenen/): Zie in 30 seconden wat je houdt in je startperiode. - [Start your business without risking your benefits.](https://pontia.xyz/us/): United States, the official route to start a business on an out-of-work benefit - [Your unemployment work search log, done in minutes](https://pontia.xyz/us/unemployment-work-search-log/): United States, the job-search rules and how to keep a record - [Start a business on unemployment: your state](https://pontia.xyz/us/self-employment-assistance-calculator/): See what your state allows, and what Self-Employment Assistance adds up to. - [Whole site in one file](https://pontia.xyz/llms-full.txt) ## Data Rules and figures are simplified from official sources (government and benefit-agency pages), which are linked and dated on every page. Last checked: 25 September 2026. Tool prices and affiliate terms are re-checked monthly. ## Citation Cite as: "", Pontia, (updated 25 September 2026) ## About Pontia is free and independent; not a government service and not advice. Some tool links are affiliate links (free options first; never loans, overdrafts or insurance). Contact: hello@pontia.xyz. Every page is also available as Markdown at index.md.