Checked against the official page on 2026-10-20. Part of Oak’s directory of Japanese business grants.
Before you apply
- The money is not up front. You pay for the whole project yourself. The grant reimburses a share of it (often half to two-thirds) after a completion report has been checked, typically 6 to 18 months after applying.
- Do not spend before approval. Costs ordered, contracted or paid before the official grant decision (交付決定) are usually not eligible.
- Competitive and strict. Business plans are scored against other applicants and many are rejected. Eligibility rules on company size, ownership and tax compliance are applied to the letter.
- Obligations continue after payment. Reports for up to five years, inspections, and targets in your plan. Missing them can mean repaying part or all of the grant.
| Japanese name | 事業承継・M&A補助金 専門家活用枠 |
|---|---|
| Level | National · Nationwide |
| Administered by | METI SME Agency / SMRJ |
| Type | M&A adviser fees |
| Maximum amount | 6,000,000 (buy-side/sell-side; more with DD add-ons); new 小規模売り手支援類型 |
| Subsidy rate | 1/2–2/3 |
| Who can apply | SMEs buying or selling a business |
| Support organisation | Only fees paid to registered M&A支援機関 (FA/intermediaries) are eligible |
| How to apply | jGrants |
| Rounds and deadlines | 16th call to 2026-11-06 |
| Adoption rate | 15th: 194 adopted in this track |
Can a foreign-owned company apply?
Japan-incorporated KK/GK (incl. foreign-owned) eligible if within SME capital/employee limits. Excluded as みなし大企業 if one large company owns >=1/2, large companies together own >=2/3, or large-company officers/staff hold >=1/2 of board seats; a foreign parent counts as a large company if BOTH its capital and headcount exceed SME limits. Branches of foreign companies (no Japanese HQ/本店) not eligible. Standard METI wording; confirm in this programme's 公募要領. Note: a foreign-owned buyer must itself pass the SME/みなし大企業 tests.
Points to note
Raised cap is repayable (up to 2M) if wage targets are missed (secondary source).
How Oak can help
Oak is a licensed gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) firm. We check eligibility before you spend time on an application, help set up the GビズID Prime account most programmes require, prepare and organise the supporting documents within the programme's rules, and handle the reporting that follows an award.