150 days remaining ALG I entitlement,
what it really means.

Yes. They are calendar days, not working days. Weekends, public holidays, sick days and vacation days all count. If your last ALG I day is 30 November 2026, the 150th day backwards is 3 July 2026, regardless of which weekdays or holidays fall in between.

With less than 150 days of remaining entitlement, the Gründungszuschuss application is usually no longer possible. Realistic options: AVGS-funded startup coaching for preparation (requirement: registered as job-seeking), starting as a sideline business (Nebenerwerb) without losing your ALG I and ramping up slowly, and a review of your decision letter for possible corrections in the remaining entitlement calculation. In a strategy consultation we look together at what fits your situation.

No, not for that reason alone. Voluntary resignation can trigger a Sperrzeit (blocking period), and a Sperrzeit may be interpreted as a breach of insurance obligations and lead to rejection of the GZ application. That does not mean every resignation automatically excludes the GZ, the reason matters. In the initial consultation we clarify your specific case.

Yes. 5 months are between 150 and 153 calendar days depending on month distribution, so always at least 150 days. Still, it is advisable to plan with 150 days plus a small buffer so that processing errors or correction loops do not become a risk.

The application counts as submitted when you formally initiate it with the Agentur für Arbeit and request the application documents. Complete documents (business plan, financial plan, Fachkundige Stellungnahme, CV, qualification proof, Gewerbeanmeldung) can follow after submission. The 150-day rule applies at the start of the main self-employed activity (§ 93 (2) Sentence 2 SGB III), the formal application must be submitted before taking up the activity.

Recommended yes. The buffer serves not for postal time but as a safety reserve for errors in the Agentur's calculation of your ALG I end, for correction loops in case of unclarities, or for unexpected delays. Without buffer, in the worst case you stand right at the 150-day line and have no room left.