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 | 小規模事業者持続化補助金〈一般型・通常枠〉第20回 |
|---|---|
| Level | National · Nationwide |
| Administered by | METI SME Agency; 全国商工会連合会 / 日本商工会議所 secretariats |
| Type | Sales channel development |
| Maximum amount | 500,000 base; +500,000 invoice special; +1,500,000 wage-raise special (max 2.5M) |
| Subsidy rate | 2/3 (3/4 for loss-making firms using the wage special) |
| Who can apply | Small businesses: commerce/services ≤5 employees; accommodation/entertainment and manufacturing/other ≤20 |
| Support organisation | Must get 事業支援計画書 (様式4) from the local 商工会/商工会議所 through an in-person interview; an outside agent alone cannot request it |
| How to apply | Dedicated e-system; GビズIDプライム or メンバー |
| Rounds and deadlines | ~2–3 rounds/yr. 20th: applications 2026-11-05 to 12-15 17:00; 様式4 by 12-04 |
| Adoption rate | 19th: 16,576→7,819 (47.2%), results 2026-07-29 (secondary source) |
Can a foreign-owned company apply?
Verified (公募要領 第8版): applicant must be an individual resident in Japan or a company with its 本店 in Japan. Excluded if 100% owned, directly or indirectly, by a company with capital ≥¥500M – so a wholly owned Japanese subsidiary of a large foreign parent is out, while a <100% holding does not trigger exclusion. Avg taxable income >15億円 excluded. Foreign-national sole proprietors resident in Japan are eligible.
Points to note
Any third-party help must be declared with the advisor's name and all fees (着手金/成功報酬), or the application is treated as false. Sharing GビズID breaches its terms. Wage special changed in round 20 to +3.0%/yr per-head pay. FY2027 adds a 成長志向の経営計画 declaration.
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.