Newly self-employed in the Almanzora: zero-contribution scheme and start-up grant open until this Wednesday
Newly self-employed workers can apply until Wednesday 30 for the zero-contribution scheme and the start-up grant, which is higher in towns with fewer than 10,000 residents.
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Newly self-employed workers have until this Wednesday, 30 September, to apply for the zero-contribution scheme (cuota cero) and the start-up grant (ayuda al inicio de actividad) from the Andalusian regional government (Junta de Andalucía). They are two compatible schemes: the same person can apply for both if they meet the requirements, as noted by the regional ministry of Employment, Enterprise and Self-Employment, which in August raised the budget for these grants to €128.22 million.
What can you apply for?
- Zero-contribution scheme: the Junta refunds what has been paid to Social Security during the first twelve months of activity, around €1,000. It is applied for once those 12 months of registration have been completed, without having to submit additional documentation, and some groups can extend it to a second year.
- Start-up grant: from €3,800 to €5,500, depending on age and the size of the municipality. You must be registered as self-employed when you apply and have a viability plan for the business.
More help in small towns
And here is what matters most in the Valley: the start-up grant is higher in municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. In the Valley, that means every town except Albox, which had 12,799 residents as of 1 January 2025, according to the INE, Spain’s National Statistics Institute. These are the amounts:
- Women under 35 and men under 30: €5,500 in municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants and €5,000 in larger ones.
- Women aged 35 or over and men aged 30 or over: €5,000 in municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants and €3,800 in larger ones.
According to the Junta’s employment delegation in Almería, by combining the two schemes, support can reach €6,500 in the first years of activity.
Requirements and how to apply
- Be registered with the RETA, the special Social Security scheme for self-employed workers (or in the first group of the Special Scheme for Maritime Workers), and be on the reduced state contribution, known as the tarifa plana (flat rate).
- Carry out the business activity in Andalusia.
- Submit the application online, through the Junta’s Sede Electrónica General (general online services portal).
If you registered as self-employed in recent months or have just completed your first year, check whether you qualify before Wednesday: this call for applications closes on 30 September.
