Motherhood meets entrepreneurship – How to make it work financially

One of the most common misconceptions among entrepreneurs is the belief that the amount of maternity benefit depends on business income. This is not true. While for employment contracts the contribution base equals the gross salary, in the case of self-employment, the base is set separately and depends, among other things, on how long the business has been running. Minimum bases are assigned to specific contribution schemes (start-up relief, reduced ZUS, full ZUS), but they can always be voluntarily increased – and that’s exactly how you can influence the amount of your benefit.

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Maternity benefit – what it is, who gets it and for how long

The right to receive maternity benefit begins from the first day of voluntary sickness insurance coverage. Importantly, for entrepreneurs this insurance is not automatic – you must apply for it yourself (or inform your accountant that you wish to be covered).

The benefit (for the birth of one child) can last up to 61 weeks and may start up to 6 weeks before the expected due date. The first 20 weeks constitute maternity leave (including 14 mandatory weeks for the mother), followed by 32 weeks of parental leave, and finally 9 weeks of additional parental leave intended for the second parent (if they previously used less of the total leave).

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You have more control than you think

The amount of the benefit is based on the sickness insurance contribution base from the 12 months prior to childbirth. A businesswoman who has been paying higher contributions for a full year can receive a significant benefit – often exceeding PLN 10,000 per month. But what if the pregnancy was a surprise, and you don’t have the full 12 months? Don’t worry – every month of higher contributions increases your future benefit. For example, raising your base for just 6 months before childbirth could result in a monthly maternity benefit of around PLN 8,000.

There are two benefit payout options:

• 100% of the base for 20 weeks of maternity leave, and 70% for 32 weeks of parental leave, or
• 81.5% for the entire 52 weeks – provided that the application is submitted within 21 days after birth (this is usually the more financially advantageous option).

It’s also worth knowing that pregnancy sick leave (code B) is paid at 100% of the base. So, if a future mother increases her contribution base early enough, it may be more financially beneficial to go on sick leave earlier rather than waiting for childbirth. While on sick leave, you cannot work, but your social contributions are reduced proportionally – which is another plus. During maternity and parental leave, however, you are allowed to run your business, and your monthly ZUS is limited to the health contribution only.
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Smart planning pays off – literally!

In extreme cases, the “profit” from receiving a higher maternity benefit throughout the year, compared to the additional contributions paid before childbirth, can exceed PLN 75,000. Yes, really. All it takes is some proper calculations, strategic planning of higher contributions, and… trusting the numbers. That’s where we come in.

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How much could you gain?

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Let’s compare two scenarios:

Scenario 1: No increase in contribution base

• Social contributions: ~PLN 1,800/month
• Sick leave benefit (100%): ~PLN 3,900/month
• Maternity benefit (81.5%): ~PLN 3,200/month for a year

Scenario 2: Maximum contribution base for 12 months before childbirth

• Social contributions: ~PLN 7,000/month
• Sick leave benefit (100%): ~PLN 16,400/month
• Maternity benefit (81.5%): ~PLN 13,500/month for a year

The difference? Huge. And there are countless middle-ground options. You can choose the variant: “I want PLN 10,000/month in maternity benefit,” or “I can afford to pay PLN 4,000/month in contributions” – and we’ll do the math. And implement it.

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‍Comprehensive support – from planning to payout

At our accounting office, we help women who are pregnant (or planning pregnancy) understand how maternity benefits work – and actually benefit from them. We calculate the optimal contribution base, show what it will cost, and what you can gain. Then we handle the entire process – from A to Z – so you can focus on what really matters: a peaceful start to a new stage of life. Because motherhood and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand. You just need to know the rules – and have someone who’ll help you play the game right.

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What we offer:

• Calculations of estimated maternity benefits depending on selected contribution base and financial preferences,
• Monthly verification and priority submission of ZUS declarations,
• Initial review of your ZUS account and insurance status,
• Preparation and submission of benefit applications and all necessary post-birth documents,
• Process covered by our insurance in case ZUS challenges the benefit payout (which, by the way, has never happened to us).

‍Every case is different – if you’d like to see what your scenario might look like, we’d be happy to help you analyze it. 😊

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