Kit Consulting (Spain advisory grant) works in four phases: first the company checks it meets the requirements and registers at Acelera Pyme; then it applies for the voucher at the Red.es official e-government portal with a digital certificate — granted on a first-come, first-served basis; next it chooses an accredited digital adviser from the official catalogue and signs an advisory services agreement; finally the adviser delivers the advisory and the service is justified for the voucher to be paid. The programme has a closed budget, so its availability depends on the current call.
"How does Kit Consulting work?" is probably the most searched question about this programme, and also one of the most poorly answered: many pages turn it into a commercial "apply now" without genuinely explaining the process. My approach is the opposite. Here I explain, step by step and without rushing to sell you anything, how each piece of the process fits together, what each party does (the company, Red.es, the adviser) and where the critical points are. This is educational content: understanding the mechanics is useful whether the programme is currently open or you are considering it for a future call.
One warning from the outset, because regulatory honesty is part of this work: Kit Consulting is a grant with a closed budget. It is not permanently open; it is applied for when there is a live call and available credit. That is why this article explains "how it works", not "how to get it today". For the general context of the programme, see my guide on what Kit Consulting is.
How does Kit Consulting work from start to finish?
The programme follows a logic repeated in almost all Red.es digitalisation grants: the company receives a virtual "voucher" and spends it on services provided by accredited providers, who are paid by the State after justifying the work. In Kit Consulting, that voucher funds expert advisory (not tools or licences, as in Kit Digital) and the providers are the accredited digital advisers. The complete circuit can be summarised in four phases shown below.
Phase 1: check requirements and register at Acelera Pyme
Before applying for anything, the company must verify it meets the programme conditions. The main ones are being an SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) of between 10 and fewer than 250 employees, being up to date with tax and social security obligations, and not incurring any of the prohibitions for receiving public grants. In this phase the company also completes the digital maturity diagnostic test on the Acelera Pyme platform — a questionnaire that helps the company identify its starting point and that the programme uses as a reference.
This step seems like a formality, but it is where many applications fail: a company that miscalculates its employee count or has a pending tax debt may have its application rejected even if everything else is impeccable. That is why it is worth reviewing the eligibility requirements carefully before proceeding.
Phase 2: apply for the voucher at the official e-government portal
The application is submitted electronically at the Red.es official e-government portal. This requires electronic identification: a digital certificate or equivalent system of the applicant or their representative. If a third party acts on behalf of the company, the corresponding voluntary representative authorisation must be provided.
Here the most important feature of the programme comes into play: grants are awarded by non-competitive concurrence, i.e. on a first-come, first-served basis. The "best project" does not win; complete applications are processed as they are received, until the call's credit is exhausted. This has two practical consequences: first, submitting a complete and error-free application is decisive (a mistake can send you to the back of the queue after correction); second, timing matters, because the money runs out.
Phase 3: choose the accredited digital adviser
Once the voucher is granted, the company chooses which accredited digital adviser it wants to work with. These advisers form an official catalogue: they are companies and professionals that have registered and meet the programme requirements to provide advisory services. The company cannot hire just anyone; it must choose from accredited advisers.
With the chosen adviser, the company signs the Advisory Services Agreement, the document binding both parties and specifying which advisory category will be delivered (artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital sales, processes or "360" digital transformation), its scope and its amount within the voucher. Choosing the right adviser is probably the most critical decision in the entire process: the quality of the deliverable depends on their specialisation.
Phase 4: service delivery and justification
The adviser delivers the service and provides the result, which is normally a plan or report: an AI adoption plan, a cybersecurity plan, a digital transformation roadmap, etc. Kit Consulting advisory is strategic — it diagnoses, plans and recommends — it does not implement or install tools (that phase, if needed, would correspond to other programmes such as Kit Digital).
Once the service is closed, justification follows: it must be documented that the advisory was genuinely delivered in accordance with what was agreed, so that Red.es validates the expenditure and the voucher is paid to the adviser. Justification is not a mere final formality; it is the condition for the grant to take effect. A service that is poorly justified may not be paid. That is why it is worth treating documentation with the same rigour as the advisory itself.
Process summary: who does what
To see the division of roles at a glance, this table summarises what each party does in each phase:
| Phase | What the company does | What Red.es / the adviser does |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Requirements and registration | Checks eligibility, registers and completes digital maturity test | Red.es hosts Acelera Pyme and the diagnostic |
| 2. Voucher application | Submits application with digital certificate | Red.es grants on first-come, first-served basis |
| 3. Adviser selection | Chooses accredited adviser and signs agreement | Adviser defines service scope and amount |
| 4. Delivery and justification | Receives the plan and collaborates in justification | Adviser delivers service; Red.es validates and pays voucher |
Is Kit Consulting open right now?
This is the question that most deserves an honest answer. Kit Consulting is not permanently open: it is a grant with a closed budget (€300 million) applied for when there is a live call and available credit. The amendment to the framework through Orden TDF/38/2026 introduced mechanisms to reinvest unspent funds and serve new applications until the budget is exhausted, which has extended the programme's life beyond its initial launch.
In other words: before assuming you can apply "today", you must check the actual status of the call at the Red.es portal. Any page that pushes you to "apply now" without verifying credit status is selling urgency, not information. For a detailed understanding of this point, see my analysis on the status of Kit Consulting in 2026.
What deliverables should you expect from the advisory?
A very reasonable question from those approaching the programme is: "what exactly will I get?" It is worth managing this from the start, because Kit Consulting funds strategic advisory, not implementation. The typical result of each category is an actionable document:
- In artificial intelligence, an AI adoption plan: which use cases make sense for your company, what investment they require and what measures to take.
- In cybersecurity, a security plan adapted to your SME, which at the advanced level may be oriented towards preparing for a management system certification.
- In data analytics, a plan for implementing data analysis in the business, with the necessary investment and training.
- In "360" digital transformation, a comprehensive roadmap that organises the digital evolution of all areas of the organisation.
What the advisory does not include is material implementation: installing software, building the website or deploying the tool. That phase, if needed, would correspond to other instruments. Having this boundary clear avoids the frustration of those who expected something to be "set up" and instead receive a plan. The value of a well-executed plan is precisely that it saves you from investing blindly.
The most costly mistakes in the process
Since grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, errors in the application do not just cause delays: they can cost you your queue position after correction. These are the most frequent mistakes worth anticipating:
- Not having the digital certificate ready. Obtaining one takes days; leaving it to the last moment of a call is risky.
- Miscalculating the employee count. This determines the segment and therefore the voucher amount. An error here can invalidate the application.
- Confusing the adviser with the representative. The adviser delivering the service cannot also be your voluntary representative in the procedure; missing this incompatibility forces a documentation redo.
- Neglecting the justification. The voucher is paid after justifying the service. Excellent advisory that is poorly documented may not be paid.
Most are avoidable with foresight. That is why I recommend treating the application with the same rigour as the advisory itself: the programme rewards those who arrive prepared.
Difference from Kit Digital
Since the process superficially resembles Kit Digital, it is worth marking the fundamental difference: Kit Digital funds solutions and tools (a website, a CRM, implemented cybersecurity…), while Kit Consulting funds expert advisory that diagnoses and plans. A company can have used Kit Digital and still benefit from Kit Consulting, because they cover different needs. I explain this in full in my comparison Kit Digital vs Kit Consulting.
Frequently asked questions
How does Kit Consulting work?
As an advisory voucher: the company checks requirements and registers, applies for the voucher at the Red.es portal, chooses an accredited digital adviser from the official catalogue and signs an agreement with them, and the adviser delivers the service (normally a plan or report) which is then justified for the voucher to be paid.
What are the steps of Kit Consulting?
Four: 1) check requirements and register at Acelera Pyme with the digital maturity test; 2) apply for the voucher at the official e-government portal with a digital certificate; 3) choose an accredited adviser and sign the Advisory Services Agreement; and 4) receive the advisory and justify it for payment.
How do I choose the digital adviser?
The company chooses from the accredited digital advisers listed in the official programme catalogue. It cannot hire just any consultant: the adviser must be accredited. The choice is formalised by signing the Advisory Services Agreement, which specifies the category, scope and amount.
Is Kit Consulting open right now?
Not permanently. It is a grant with a closed budget applied for when there is a live call and available credit. Orden TDF/38/2026 enabled reinvesting unspent funds to extend it, but you should always check the actual status at the Red.es portal before assuming it can be applied for.
Who pays the adviser — the company or the State?
The voucher covers the advisory cost. Once the service is delivered and justified, Red.es validates the expenditure and the grant is paid. The company does not receive cash; what it gets is funded advisory, within the maximum amount of its segment.
Sources
- Red.es official e-government portal — Kit Consulting call
- Acelera Pyme — Kit Consulting programme and advisory services
- BOE — Orden TDF/436/2024, of 10 May (regulatory framework)
- BOE — Orden TDF/38/2026, of 26 January (unspent funds and new resolutions)
Content by Ángel Ortega Castro. Informational content; always verify current call status at BOE and Red.es.