Subsidy Applications
Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Eligibility for Japanese government subsidies is based on where the company is registered and its tax status, not on the owner's nationality. As long as your company is legally registered in Japan (Kabushiki Kaisha, Godo Kaisha, etc.) and properly pays taxes and social insurance in Japan, you can apply for the vast majority of SME subsidies.

Different subsidies have different requirements for years in business. The IT Adoption Subsidy, Small-Business Sustainability Subsidy, and similar programs usually have no particular minimum, and you can apply once established for at least one month; programs like the Business Restructuring Subsidy generally require a track record of filed corporate tax or final tax returns, so at least six months in business is recommended. We match the most suitable subsidy to your specific situation.

Yes. Most Japanese government subsidies are open to both sole proprietors and corporations — for example, the Small-Business Sustainability Subsidy explicitly supports sole proprietors. Some subsidies (such as the Business Restructuring Subsidy) are limited to corporations, so we recommend consulting us for a case-by-case assessment.

You fully qualify. The primary beneficiaries of Japan's SME subsidy policy are precisely small-scale businesses (20 or fewer regular employees, or 5 or fewer in commerce and services). The fewer employees and the smaller the scale, the more easily you meet the "small-scale business" criteria and enjoy a higher subsidy rate.

Some subsidies have financial requirements, but a loss itself is usually not a hard barrier. For example, the Business Restructuring Subsidy has a "performance-concern track" specifically for companies whose sales have declined due to the pandemic or market changes, so a loss may actually make it easier to qualify. Please contact us for a specific assessment.

We work on a "zero upfront cost + success-fee" basis. Initial consultation, eligibility diagnosis, and application drafting carry no fixed fee; we charge a success fee only after the subsidy is actually approved and the funds are received, as a set percentage of the approved amount (generally 10%–15%, depending on the subsidy type). If it is not approved, you pay nothing at all — we bear the risk entirely.

Yes. Japanese government subsidies are non-repayable grants — they do not need to be repaid and carry no interest. This is entirely different from financing or loans. A subsidy supports a company's actual spending on an approved project and is disbursed directly by the government — genuinely money you get to keep.

The subsidy mechanism is "spend first, get reimbursed later" — you must first implement the project per the approved plan and pay the related costs, then submit a performance report to the administrative authority, and the funds are disbursed only after the report is approved. Therefore, before the funds arrive, the company must advance the project costs itself. We provide detailed guidance in preparing the performance report to ensure the disbursement goes through smoothly.

The overall timeline varies by subsidy type. Typically: about 2–6 weeks from initial consultation to submission; a review period of about 1–4 months; about 3–12 months to implement the project and complete the performance report after approval; and disbursement generally within 1–2 months after the performance report is approved. All told, most clients complete the entire process and receive the funds within 6–18 months.

The application must be submitted in Japanese — this is a Japanese administrative requirement. But you needn't worry about the language: the Shisei Consulting team communicates with you entirely in Chinese and prepares all Japanese application materials on your behalf, ensuring professional wording that meets review requirements. You only need to provide relevant business information and cooperate with signing off.

Yes. Most subsidies open several "public-offering periods" (application windows) each year, and one rejection does not affect your eligibility to apply again. We analyze the reasons for rejection in detail and optimize the application content accordingly to improve the pass rate next time. Among our past clients, some were successfully approved on their second application.

An approved subsidy comes with clear implementation requirements and deadlines. Failing to execute as planned can result in the subsidy being canceled and funds already received having to be returned; in serious cases it can lead to being placed on a restricted list, affecting future applications. We provide guidance throughout the implementation phase to help you complete the project in compliance and pass the performance review smoothly.

Basic documents typically include: a corporate registration certificate (certificate of all historical matters), the most recent 1–2 periods of final tax returns (corporate tax and consumption tax), a company overview, a business/management plan, and quotations (estimates). Specific documents vary by subsidy type, and we provide a detailed checklist based on the program you are applying for.

Each subsidy's application form includes a management-plan section in a prescribed format. Reviewers care most about: ① current-state analysis (market, competition, your own strengths); ② challenges and solutions; ③ the specific content and necessity of the subsidized project; ④ quantified targets (projected sales increase / cost reduction). We provide professional bilingual (Chinese–Japanese) guidance to help you write a high-quality business plan.

The financial materials submitted for a subsidy application (final tax returns, etc.) usually need to bear the tax office's acceptance stamp, or the e-Tax acceptance notice; a separately issued sealed report from a Zeirishi is not required. If your filing was handled by a Zeirishi, simply use the copy of the return they submitted. Our partner Zeirishi team can assist in preparing the relevant documents.

Usually yes, but note that some subsidies are subject to "concurrent-use restrictions" (rules prohibiting receiving them simultaneously), and the same equipment/project cannot be claimed under multiple subsidies. We design an optimal multi-subsidy combination plan for your situation, maximizing the funding support you can obtain while staying compliant.

Yes. Japanese government subsidies count as corporate income and must be included in the current period's earnings and subject to corporate tax. However, because subsidies are usually used to purchase assets or pay expenses (which are deductible), the actual tax burden is relatively low. We recommend calculating the tax impact together with a Zeirishi when drawing up the application plan, and we can help arrange this.

Our headquarters is in Tokyo (Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku), and our service covers all of Japan. Since most of the subsidy application process is handled online, whether you are in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, or another city, we provide full Chinese-language service via WeChat, phone, and video conference. If needed, we can also arrange on-site visits (Kanto region).