Japanese subsidies & grants
sole proprietors can actually use (2026)
No company, no employees — there are still programs you qualify for. This page covers only the ones that matter for kojin jigyonushi: who qualifies, how much, when, and what to prepare.
A sole proprietor in Japan can apply for four main programs: ① Small Business Sustainability Subsidy (standard cap ¥500,000, 2/3 rate, up to ¥2M with special tracks); ② Digitalization & AI Adoption Subsidy 2026 (¥50,000–¥4.5M, up to 1/2); ③ Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy general type (cap ¥7.5M for ≤5 staff, 1/2 rate, 2/3 for small businesses); ④ Tokyo Metropolitan grants. After hiring staff, the Career-Up Grant pays up to ¥800,000 per regularized employee. Prerequisites: a filed business-opening notice, tax-return history and a GビズID.
Three questions we hear most
① Can I apply without a company?
Yes. Nearly every program for 'SMEs and small businesses' explicitly includes sole proprietors. Eligibility depends on having a registered business (opening notice), filing tax returns, and staying within the industry/headcount limits — not on incorporation.
② I work alone. Can I get employment grants?
MHLW grants (Career-Up, Human Resource Development) require employees covered by employment insurance, so a one-person business cannot use them. METI subsidies (Sustainability, AI Adoption, Labor-Saving) have no employee requirement.
③ How long after opening?
The Sustainability Subsidy requires an opened business and, normally, a tax return (first-year businesses may substitute the opening notice per the round's guidelines). AI Adoption and Labor-Saving have no hard minimum, but at least one filed return strengthens the review.
Programs open to sole proprietors in 2026
| Program | Use | Cap / rate | Window | Staff required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Sustainability Subsidy (general, standard) | Marketing, website, renovation, trade shows | ¥500k / 2/3 (special tracks up to ¥2M; invoice special +¥500k) | Round-based; 20th round 2026-11-05 to 12-15 17:00, Form 4 by 12-04 | No (≤5 regular staff in retail/services) |
| Digitalization & AI Adoption Subsidy 2026 | Accounting, booking, POS, AI tools | ¥50k–¥4.5M / up to 1/2 (2/3 with wage condition) | Monthly deadlines; joint application with registered IT vendor | No |
| Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy (general) | Automation equipment, labor-saving systems | ¥7.5M (≤5 staff; ¥10M with wage-raise special) / 1/2 (2/3 small) | Round 8: opens 8/18, intake mid-Sep, deadline mid-Oct (planned) | No |
| Tokyo SME Support Center grants | Product development, market expansion, exhibitions | ¥3M–¥20M / 1/2–2/3 by program | Separate calls; most explicitly list sole proprietors | No |
| Career-Up Grant (regularization) | Convert fixed-term/part-time staff to regular | ¥200k–¥800k per person | Year-round; plan notification before conversion | Yes |
| Human Resource Development Grant | Staff training | 45–75% of costs + ¥800–1,000/hour wage support | Plan filed 1–6 months before training | Yes |
When you cannot apply (or will likely fail)
- No opening notice or tax-return history.
- Residence status that does not permit business activity.
- Contract signed or payment made before the grant decision — most subsidies only cover costs incurred after 交付決定.
- Purpose mismatch (e.g., vehicles or rent under the Sustainability Subsidy are usually ineligible).
- Tax arrears or, with employees, no social-insurance enrollment.
- Double-claiming the same cost under two national subsidies.
Checklist: from opening to application
- Confirm your residence status permits business activity.
- File the business-opening notice (and ideally the blue-return approval) with the tax office.
- File tax returns on time and keep stamped copies / e-Tax receipts.
- Obtain a GビズID Prime account (1–2 weeks) — required for jGrants and most e-applications.
- Draft the business plan: current state, investment, expected sales/productivity effect.
- Sustainability Subsidy: request Form 4 from your local Chamber of Commerce (separate deadline, 12-04 for round 20).
- AI Adoption: choose a registered IT vendor and tool; they co-apply.
Two typical scenarios
A: One-person online shop / studio
Website, booking system and ads → Sustainability Subsidy (cap ¥500k, 2/3). If the system is a registered IT tool, evaluate the AI Adoption Subsidy instead — never both for the same cost.
B: Family restaurant with two part-timers
Self-ordering/POS → Labor-Saving (≤5 staff: ¥7.5M cap) or AI Adoption; converting one part-timer → Career-Up Grant (¥800k for fixed-term → regular, priority target). File the Career-Up plan before conversion.
How Shisei helps sole proprietors
- Free diagnosis in Chinese: what you can apply for, what to fix first.
- Timeline planning against the official calendar (GビズID, Form 4, deadlines).
- Documents: Gyoseishoshi prepares subsidy documents; Sharoshi handles employment-grant procedures; Zeirishi verifies financials.
- Post-adoption reporting until funds arrive.
FAQ
QDo sole proprietors and companies differ in eligibility?
Mostly no — both count as SMEs/small businesses. The difference is documentation: companies submit financial statements and registry; sole proprietors submit tax returns and the opening notice.
QCan a Business Manager visa holder apply?
Yes, if the status permits the business activity. Subsidies do not directly affect visa renewal; consult a Gyoseishoshi for immigration matters.
QCan I get the Career-Up Grant with no employees?
No. It targets employees covered by employment insurance. Enroll staff properly first, then file the plan before conversion.
QIs ¥500k the maximum for the Sustainability Subsidy?
Standard track, yes. Special tracks (wage increase, startup, successor) go up to ¥2M, plus a ¥500k invoice special, subject to the round's guidelines.
QI already bought the equipment. Can I apply retroactively?
Generally no — only costs after the grant decision are eligible. This is the most common cause of rejection or repayment.
QHow long until the money arrives?
Sustainability Subsidy: typically 8–12 months end-to-end; AI Adoption: 6–9 months. Subsidies reimburse after you pay, so plan cash flow.
QIs hiring a consultant worth it for small amounts?
Depends on your time and familiarity. Our diagnosis is free — we first tell you whether it is worth applying at all.
QCan I reapply after rejection?
Yes. All three METI subsidies run multiple rounds with no penalty; fix the requirement gap or improve the plan first.
- Small Business Sustainability Subsidy (official)
- Digitalization & AI Adoption Subsidy 2026 (SMRJ)
- Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy (official)
- Career-Up Grant (MHLW)
- Human Resource Development Grant (MHLW)
- Tokyo SME Support Center grants
- GビズID
※ Amounts, subsidy rates and application windows follow each authority's latest guidelines; outcomes depend on review. This page is not a guarantee of approval.