Kit Digital + Kit Consulting 2026: Complete Guide to Government Grants for SMBs
If you run an SMB or are self-employed in Spain, there's public money on the table right now that you've never seen before: up to €53,000 in combined grants to digitalize your business. No repayment. No co-payment. These European NextGenerationEU funds, managed through Red.es, are the most concrete opportunity in years to modernize your company with zero upfront cost.
The problem is most business owners don't know these programs exist, can't tell one from the other, or think applying is a bureaucratic nightmare not worth the effort. Let's clear that up right now.
1. The two programs you need to know
The Spanish government manages two complementary grants through Red.es, funded by NextGenerationEU. They're not the same. They don't overlap. And you can apply for both.
Kit Digital: tools and implementation
The Kit Digital funds the implementation of digital solutions: website, online store, CRM, cybersecurity, electronic invoicing, AI tools, social media management. You choose what you need, contract with an approved digital partner, and the grant covers 100% of the cost up to your company's segment limit.
Funding amounts by company size (updated by Orden TDF/39/2026):
| Segment | Company Size | Max Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Segment III | 0 to <3 employees (including freelancers) | €3,000 |
| Segment II | 3 to <10 employees | €6,000 |
| Segment I | 10 to <50 employees | €12,000 |
| Segment IV | 50 to <100 employees | €25,000 |
| Segment V | 100 to <250 employees | €29,000 |
Kit Consulting: strategy and advice
The Kit Consulting funds specialized strategic consulting. It doesn't give you tools. It gives you a consultant who analyzes your business, identifies where technology can drive value, and designs a personalized roadmap.
Funding amounts by company size:
| Segment | Company Size | Max Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Segment A | 10 to <50 employees | €12,000 |
| Segment B | 50 to <100 employees | €18,000 |
| Segment C | 100 to <250 employees | €24,000 |
The grant can be split across up to six consulting categories: artificial intelligence, digital sales, strategy and performance, business processes, cybersecurity, and data-driven transformation. Each category has a €6,000 cap.
2. Why combining them is the smart move
This is where most businesses go wrong. They apply for Kit Digital, build a website or set up a CRM, and stop. Tools without strategy are like buying a drill without knowing where to make the hole.
The right order is:
- First Kit Consulting: a consultant analyzes your business, identifies processes where technology delivers the most value, and creates a prioritized action plan.
- Then Kit Digital: you implement the specific solutions the consultant identified, with the grant covering the full cost.
Combined, the grants are:
| Company Size | Kit Digital | Kit Consulting | Total Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-49 employees | €12,000 | €12,000 | €24,000 |
| 50-99 employees | €25,000 | €18,000 | €43,000 |
| 100-249 employees | €29,000 | €24,000 | €53,000 |
According to Red.es data, 82% of SMBs that received Kit Consulting also accessed Kit Digital. Companies combining both programs advance twice as fast in digital maturity.
3. Eligibility requirements
Both programs share the same basic requirements:
- Be an SMB, microenterprise, or freelancer with tax domicile in Spain
- Be registered in the IAE (Economic Activities Tax)
- Be current on tax and social security obligations
- Not exceed the de minimis aid limit: €300,000 accumulated over the past 3 years
- Not be in financial distress or bankruptcy proceedings
- Have been registered for at least 6 months (for freelancers with no employees)
Specific requirement for Kit Consulting: you must have at least 10 employees. Freelancers with no employees and microenterprises with fewer than 10 workers cannot access this program, but can access Kit Digital.
4. How to apply for each grant step by step
Kit Digital
- Go to acelerapyme.gob.es and register with a digital certificate or Cl@ve.
- Complete the digital diagnostic assessment (10 minutes).
- Review the solution catalog and select what you need.
- Choose an approved digital partner from the official catalog.
- Sign the service agreement.
- The partner implements the solution and documents the spending to Red.es.
Kit Consulting
- Go to the Red.es electronic office or the Acelera Pyme platform.
- Submit the application with your digital certificate.
- Provide: employment history, proof of current tax and social security status, de minimis aid declaration.
- Once your grant is approved, select an accredited advisor from the official catalog.
- The advisor conducts the diagnostic and delivers your roadmap.
The Kit Consulting 2026 call is open until December 31 or until funds run out. There's no fixed closing date, but the €300 million budget is finite. If your business is in Galicia, you can also complement these national grants with regional Xunta programs for industrial digitalization.
5. Specific solutions you can fund with AI
Within Kit Digital, the Applied Artificial Intelligence category lets you fund solutions like:
- AI chatbots for customer service and support
- Business process automation with AI agents
- Predictive analysis for sales and customer behavior
- Automatic document and invoice classification
- Recommendation systems for e-commerce
And within Kit Consulting, the Artificial Intelligence category covers:
- Diagnostic of AI opportunities in your business
- Design of use cases prioritized by impact and feasibility
- Implementation plan with estimated investment and ROI
- Data governance and compliance with the European AI Regulation
- Team training on AI tools
If you're considering implementing AI in your business, this combination of grants covers both the strategy (what to do and why) and the tool (the actual software). It's the smartest way to get started. Spain's AI Law also sets requirements you should understand before August 2026.
6. Common mistakes SMBs make (and how to avoid them)
After seeing how these programs work in practice, these are the most frequent errors:
Choosing your digital partner based solely on price. The state pays the grant, but the quality of your result depends on the partner you hire. Ask for references, review case studies in your industry, and demand a detailed work plan before signing.
Applying for Kit Digital without knowing what you need. If you don't know what you want to automate, you'll end up buying a solution that doesn't solve your real problem. That's why Kit Consulting makes sense: the consultant helps you define exactly what you need.
Waiting until the end of the year to apply. Funds are limited. Competent digital partners fill up months before the budget runs out. Apply as soon as possible.
Not keeping justification documents. Your partner documents the spending to Red.es, but you must keep invoices, deliverables, and proof of implementation. If documentation is incomplete, they can demand the grant be returned.
7. Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for Kit Digital if I already have a website?
Yes. The grant isn't only for building a website from scratch. You can fund upgrades, add e-commerce, integrate a CRM, implement cybersecurity, or automate processes. What you can't fund is something already implemented before the grant was approved.
Does the grant cover VAT?
No. The grant covers the solution cost without VAT. You pay the VAT, but as a freelancer or SMB with economic activity, you can deduct it from your quarterly tax return. In practice, the actual out-of-pocket cost is zero if VAT is offset.
How long does approval take?
For Kit Digital, approval typically takes 1 to 3 months from your application date. For Kit Consulting, the timeline is similar. Once approved, you have 3 months to contract with a partner and 6 additional months to document the spending.
Can I switch to a different digital partner?
Yes, before signing the service agreement. Once signed, the agreement is with that partner. If the partner fails to deliver, you can request a change by documenting the breach.
What if I don't spend the full grant?
If you receive €6,000 and only spend €4,000, the rest is forfeited. It doesn't carry over or transfer. That's why it's important to plan your solutions carefully before applying.
Can freelancers without employees apply for Kit Consulting?
No. Kit Consulting requires at least 10 employees. Freelancers with no employees can access Kit Digital (Segment III, up to €3,000) and other support programs.
Get a free diagnostic
Want to implement this in your business? Book a free 30-minute diagnostic consultation. Contact us here or message us on WhatsApp from the site.
