Business Management

The Business Management section of the blog aims to help you operate your business in Germany as a savvy entrepreneur. As you can probably tell a work in progress but if there’s something you want to learn about, drop us a line at info@firma.de. What else can I learn? We also have master lists for …

If you’re thinking of starting a company in Germany, there are a lot of things to consider – like creating a business plan, deciding on a legal structure, and taking care of accounting. But it’s also important to think about insuring yourself as a founder against any risks that might come up. In this article, you’ll learn about the types of insurance you should consider as a new entrepreneur, and which risks you should protect yourself against.

If you’re an entrepreneur in Germany, you probably already know that while employees are covered by their employers, business owners and the self-employed have to take care of their own insurance. To help you figure this out, we’ve put together an overview of the insurance cover you’ll need in Germany.

Sozialkassen (social insurance funds) are at the heart of Germany’s Sozialversicherungssystem (social security system). But, the complicated maze of social security funds, including Urlaubskasse (holiday funds) and Zusatzkasse (supplementary pension funds), can get confusing. To help you, here is a list of the main social security organisations, their responsibilities and contact information. Contents What is …

When employees are away on sick leave, the employer is still obliged to pay their wages. For small and medium-sized enterprises, paying an absent employee can quickly become a financial burden. This is the reason for the Entgeltfortzahlungsversicherung Umlage 1 (continued payment insurance levy 1 – referred to simply as U1) is compulsory for all …

There are many reasons for closing a business: No suitable successor can be found, you realise self-employment is not for you, you can’t find enough staff or possible insolvency. While giving up a business can be complicated for companies, sole traders – whether Gewerbetreibender or Freiberufler – can benefit from tax advantages when winding up …