The Madrid City Council has opened the application period for grants for self-employed workers totalling two million euros, with direct aid of up to 10,000 euros for generational transfer. The deadline ends on July 23, 2026.
The Madrid City Council has launched a new call for grants for self-employed workers funded with two million euros. Applications can be submitted from July 4 to July 23, 2026, inclusive, through the municipal electronic headquarters. The management is handled by the Department of Economy, Innovation and Finance, in collaboration with the Madrid Chamber of Commerce.
The call is structured into three lines of aid designed to meet specific needs of the productive fabric of the capital. The main novelty compared to previous editions is the inclusion of communities of goods and civil societies with a commercial purpose in the generational transfer line, which expands the number of potential beneficiaries.
Generational transfer: up to €10,000 to keep the business open
The largest line, with a maximum of €10,000, is aimed at self-employed workers who have taken over a business during 2025, provided that the previous owner was of retirement age, had a permanent disability, or had passed away. It is essential to maintain the same activity and the original premises. This aid aims to prevent the closure of local businesses and facilitate generational transfer in neighbourhoods.
The second line supports net job creation during 2025 compared to the previous year, with a maximum of €5,000 per self-employed worker. Finally, a new aid of €2,500 for new registrations in the RETA has been introduced, aimed at workers who have not been registered in the previous five years. These three modalities can be applied for independently or jointly, as long as the requirements for each are met.
Over 209,000 self-employed workers in Madrid, a rising trend
According to the latest municipal data, at the end of May 2026, the capital recorded 209,935 self-employed individuals, a 1.7% increase compared to the same month in 2025. This figure consolidates a rising trend that the City Council seeks to bolster with these liquidity injections. Since 2021, the local administration has allocated €11,017,500 to this type of call, benefiting 3,176 professionals. However, in a universe of over 200,000 self-employed workers, the direct impact of each edition is limited.
With two million, few are helped, but the effect in the neighbourhood is noticeable when a business does not close.
The profile of the self-employed worker in Madrid is varied, but retail and hospitality account for a significant part of the fabric. In neighbourhoods like Lavapiés, Vallecas or Carabanchel, generational transfer is often the only alternative to the definitive closure of iconic establishments. The aid this July is a step, but the calendar is tight: the deadline is July 23, and those who do not submit the correct documentation will be left out.
How to apply for the aid and necessary documentation
Applications must be submitted electronically through the Madrid City Council's electronic headquarters. The Madrid Chamber of Commerce, under the signed agreement, is responsible for the electronic management through a specific platform, which streamlines the processing. It is advisable to review the requirements of each line before starting the process, as the documentation varies according to the modality.
For the generational transfer line, it is necessary to prove the transfer of the business, the situation of the previous owner, and the maintenance of the activity. In the job creation line, contracts and work history must be presented to demonstrate the net increase in workers. For new registration, it is sufficient to provide the certificate of registration in the RETA and a responsible declaration stating that they have not been registered in the previous five years.
The total amount of the call is similar to that of 2025, but the inclusion of new legal figures expands the scope. Without this novelty, many family businesses would be excluded because the transfer is not always formalised in the name of a single individual. The Chamber of Commerce recommends starting the application early to avoid last-minute errors.
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