Starting a business in Germany isn’t easy – there’s an insane amount of bureaucracy to navigate. But, it’s not impossible – you just need to know what to do.
If you want to crash course in how to set up a business in Germany (aka formation, incorporation etc.) you’ve come to the right place. And, it’s served up to you in plain English.
This is the home base of your ultimate resource for starting and running your own business in Germany. Each chapter in this guide links to an overview of the major of company forms in Germany. These overviews then lead you to information specific to individual company types.
Want to go straight to a roadmap on how to incorporate a GmbH/UG? ➡ We’ve got you covered.
Got questions about setting up a business in Germany?
- Startup expert
- 10+ years experience
Hi, I’m Andreas and I’ve been advising businesses in Germany for over a decade. I’d be happy to call you and answer any questions you have in a one-on-one consultation.
The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Business in Germany
These chapters cover each stage you’ll have to go through as an international founder wanting to set up a business in Germany.
The first chapter asks the most important question: Do you have the right legal status to start a business in Germany? If you are unsure start from Chapter 1. (Of course, if you’re an EU national etc. you can skip this part.)
After that selecting the right legal form for your business is the next most important thing. Then it’s time to battle it out with German bureaucracy, which includes, of course, lots of paperwork.
Everything you could possibly need to know about starting a business in Germany is linked to in each chapter.
Viel Erfolg (good luck)!
Chapter 1: Business visas, residence & work permits
If you’re from what’s called a “third country” you have to get the right business visa, residence permit and work permit before you can do anything else.
Chapter 2: Business legal forms in Germany
How you legally structure your business will affect your personal liability and what taxes you have to pay. In this chapter familiarise yourself with the specifics of each major legal form in Germany, including weighing the pros and cons.
Chapter 3: Preparing to start a business
Laying down a strong foundation for your business depends on the pre-formation phase. Most importantly make sure you can open a business bank account with your passport – sometimes this can be a roadblock.
Chapter 4: Forming a business in Germany
How many steps in a business formation process depends on its legal form. Incorporating a company naturally comes with the most red tape.
Chapter 5: Post formation
After you’ve made your business official the bureaucracy keeps coming. This section covers all the necessary registrations, setting up accounting systems etc. you have to get done.
Want to skip the reading & just talk to a human?
- Startup expert
- 10+ years experience
Hi, I’m Andreas and I’ve been advising businesses in Germany for over a decade. I’d be happy to call you and answer any questions you have in a one-on-one consultation.
The Master list of all Company Formation articles can be found here.
