The Company Formation section of firma.de’s blog is filled with articles aimed at educating you on the bureaucratic ins and outs of establishing a business in Germany. We’ve categorised all the posts so you can quickly search and go!
What else can I learn?
We also have master lists for each section of the blog. We hope you find it useful!
Contents
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GmbH
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UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
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Holding companies
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GbR
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Einzelunternehmen/sole proprietorships/freelancing
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AG
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Types of businesses (specific industries)
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GmbH & Co. KG
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Business bank accounts (Geschäftskonto)
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Don’t know where to start?
I’m Andreas. For over seven years I have been advising founders on how to do business in Germany. I’d be happy to call you and answer your questions about starting a company.
GmbH
GmbH contents:
The basics
- GmbH: The Pros and Cons of the German Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- What is a GmbH? Definition and costs
- What is the difference between the AG and the GmbH
- Vermögensverwaltende GmbH: What is an asset-managing GmbH and for who is it suitable?
- gGmbH: What is the German non-profit limited liability company?
Getting started
- How to choose the right legal form for your business in Germany
- Timing is everything: When to form a UG or GmbH
- How to set up a company in Germany: A company formation checklist
- How to find the perfect company name for your UG or GmbH
- Name check by the IHK: Is the company name I want still available?
- Geschäftskonto: The business bank account for GmbHs and UGs in Germany
- Opening a business bank account in Germany: Comparison and FAQs
- Opening a German Bank Account as a Non-German Citizen: How It Works
- Digital business accounts: A comparison of online banks in Germany
- Impressum: What to include in a company legal disclosure in Germany (including free template)
- Musterprotokoll vs Gesellschaftsvertrag: How are they different?
- Forming a German company from outside of Germany
- Forming a company from abroad: Legalisation
- Digital GmbH incorporation: Everything you need to know about the new online notary appointment
- Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung: Everything you need to know about the tax registration questionnaire
How things work
- CEO salary in a GmbH: How much is a GmbH CEO allowed to earn?
- GmbH shareholder rights and obligations
- GmbH-Anteile: Everything you need to know about German LLC shares
- The responsibilities of the GmbH’s CEO
- Stammeinlage and the GmbH: Delving into capital contributions in Germany
- Die Sperrminorität einer GmbH: What is a GmbH blocking minority?
- GmbH Stammkapital (share capital)
- Forming an Immobiliengesellschaft in Germany: How to save on taxes with a real estate GmbH
- The company objective (Unternehmensgegenstand): Definition and formulation
- How to do a shareholders’ resolution (Gesellschafterbeschluss) for the GmbH
Bureaucracy
- Gewerbeanmeldung: Everything You Need to Know About Trade Registration in Germany
- How to fill out the Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) form
- German limited liability companies (GmbH & UG) and the Handelsregister: From registration to removal
- Registering a Limited Liability Company in Germany (GmbH or UG): Here’s how!
- The notary appointment for company incorporation in Germany: What founders need to know
- What is an Apostille? Procedure and application
- How to do a shareholders’ resolution (Gesellschafterbeschluss) for the GmbH
- Transparenzregister: What is the Transparency Register?
UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
UG contents:
The basics
- What is a UG (haftungsbeschränkt)? – Definition and facts
- The UG Corporation
- UG Stammkapital: Incorporating a company in Germany has never been easier
- The gUG (haftungsbeschränkt): The non-profit legal form of the UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Getting started
- Timing is everything: When to form a UG or GmbH
- How to start a UG company: The ultimate formation checklist 2021
- How to set up a company in Germany: A company formation checklist
- How to find the perfect company name for your UG or GmbH
- Name check by the IHK: Is the company name I want still available?
- Geschäftskonto: The business bank account for GmbHs and UGs in Germany
- Opening a business bank account in Germany: Comparison and FAQs
- Opening a German Bank Account as a Non-German Citizen: How It Works
- Impressum: What to include in a company legal disclosure in Germany (including free template)
- The notary appointment for company incorporation in Germany: What founders need to know
- What Are the notary fees for forming a UG in Germany?
- Musterprotokoll vs Gesellschaftsvertrag: How are they different?
- Should I use the Musterprotokoll or bespoke articles of association when incorporating a UG in Germany?
- Forming a German company from outside of Germany
- Forming a company from abroad: Legalisation
- Forming a UG: Should I use the calendar year as my company’s financial year in Germany?
- The UG’s Gesellschaftsvertrag: The articles of association of Germany’s entrepreneurial company
How things work
- UG-Gesellschafter: The Rights and obligations of UG Shareholders
- What is the difference between a UG’s shareholder and its CEO?
- The company objective (Unternehmensgegenstand): Definition and formulation
- Forming a UG: Should I use the calendar year as my company’s financial year in Germany?
- The UG’s Gesellschaftsvertrag: The articles of association of Germany’s entrepreneurial company
Bureaucracy
- Gewerbeanmeldung: Everything You Need to Know About Trade Registration in Germany
- German limited liability companies (GmbH & UG) and the Handelsregister: From registration to removal
- Registering a Limited Liability Company in Germany (GmbH or UG): Here’s how!
- The notary appointment for company incorporation in Germany: What founders need to know
- What Are the Notary Fees for forming a UG in Germany?
- The UG’s Gesellschaftsvertrag: The articles of association of Germany’s entrepreneurial company
- Musterprotokoll vs Gesellschaftsvertrag: How are they different?
- Should I use the Musterprotokoll or bespoke articles of association when incorporating a UG in Germany?
- Forming a UG: Should I use the calendar year as my company’s financial year in Germany?
- Transparenzregister: What is the Transparency Register?
Holding companies
- What is a Holding? Definition, formation and FAQs about holding structures in Germany
- Subsidiary and spin-off companies in Germany: Corporation law explained in simple terms
GbR
- GbR contracts: Essential information + free PDF template
- Die GbR für Freiberufler: The business partnership for freelancers in Germany
- GbR liability: How to protect your private assets as a founder
Einzelunternehmen/sole proprietorships/freelancing
- How to name your Einzelunternehmen: A guide for small traders, freelancers & registered merchants in Germany
- Die GbR für Freiberufler: The business partnership for freelancers in Germany
AG
- What is an Aktiengesellschaft (stock company)?
- What is the difference between the AG and the GmbH?
- How to choose the right legal form for your business in Germany
Types of businesses (specific industries)
- How to open a retail business: Own your own shop in Germany
- How to open a sports shop in Germany
- Establishing a Taxiunternehmen: How to open a taxi service in Germany
- E-cigarette shops in Germany: Tips for opening your own shop
- Opening a Kita: How to establish your own childcare centre
- Establishing an Agentur: How to open your own agency in Germany
- Establishing a Werbeagentur: How to open your own advertising agency in Germany
- Setting up an Ambulanter Pflegedienst: How to start your own ambulatory nursing service
GmbH & Co. KG
Business bank accounts (Geschäftskonto)
- Geschäftskonto: The business bank account for GmbHs and UGs in Germany
- Opening a business bank account in Germany: Comparison and FAQs
- Opening a German Bank Account as a Non-German Citizen: How It Works
- Why entrepreneurs should have five bank accounts in Germany or: The problem of terminated German bank accounts
- Digital business accounts: A comparison of online banks in Germany
