Find everything on the firma.de English blog here both categorised and linked for your convenience.
Blog contents
Company Formation
The Company Formation section of firma.de’s blog is filled with blog articles aimed at educating you on the legal ins and outs of establishing a business in Germany. We’ve categorised all the posts so you can quickly search and go!
Company Formation 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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Dealing with German bureaucracy
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Business bank accounts (Geschäftskonto)
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
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- 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
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 choose the right legal form for your business in Germany
- 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
Back to Company Formation Contents.
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
- How to choose the right legal form for your business in Germany
- 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 you use model or bespoke articles of association for your UG?
- 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?
- How to fill out the Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) form
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?
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?
- Musterprotokoll vs Gesellschaftsvertrag: How are they different?
- Should you use model or bespoke articles of association for your UG?
- Forming a UG: Should I use the calendar year as my company’s financial year in Germany?
- How to fill out the Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) form
Back to Company Formation Contents.
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
Back to Company Formation Contents.
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
- How to choose the right legal form for your business in Germany
- Gewerbeanmeldung: Everything you need to know about trade registration in Germany
- How to fill out the Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) form
Back to Company Formation Contents.
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
- How to choose the right legal form for your business in Germany
- Gewerbeanmeldung: Everything you need to know about trade registration in Germany
- How to fill out the Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) form
Back to Company Formation Contents.
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
Back to Company Formation Contents.
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
Back to Company Formation Contents.
GmbH & Co. KG
Back to Company Formation Contents.
Dealing with German 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?
- Musterprotokoll vs Gesellschaftsvertrag: How are they different?
- What is an Apostille? Procedure and application
- Name check by the IHK: Is the company name I want still available?
Back to Company Formation Contents.
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
Back to Company Formation Contents.
Magazine
firma.de’s Magazine is the English language blog about entrepreneurship in Germany. The content falls outside of our regular purview but we thought would be valuable to the international folk who are working hard to be business people in Germany.
- Frankfurt and Hesse: Post-Brexit opportunities
- Polish Tech Night X firma.de
- firmaSPACE update: Papas Shorts
- HR Basics For Founders
- firma.de and Commerzbank join forces to better serve entrepreneurs in Germany
- Deconstructing what makes a good startup pitch @ eBay StartUp Cup
- When should I incorporate my startup? Incorporating in Germany pre- vs post-funding
- Vouchers: The Holy Grail of Customer Engagement
- firma.de Gone International: Announcing our special partnerships with AHKs around the world
- Women Startup Competition 2019: The Semi-Final Roadshow comes to Berlin
- Introducing the Berlin Founders Fund: The VC fund by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs
Back to top.
Accountancy
Want accounting and taxation in Germany explained to you in plain English? You’ve come to the right place! From tax optimisation strategies for your company to a primer in EOFY accounting, get your German foundership education here. All the articles have been categorised and linked for ease of navigation. Hope you find our articles about accounting/Rechnungswesen in Germany useful!
Contents
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Accounting regulations
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Einzelunternehmen (sole proprietorships etc)
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EOFY accounting for corporations (Jahresabschluss)
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EÜR accounting for non-incorporated businesses
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Holding companies
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Payroll (Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung)
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Tax (Steuern)
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Tax optimisation
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UG
Accounting regulations
- Accounting for a UG: How to do it yourself
- An overview of taxes for sole proprietorships (Einzelunternehmen)
- Creating a Jahresabschluss (the German equivalent of an annual financial statement): What you need to know
- EÜR: Everything you need to know about the Einnahmenüberschussrechnung
- Jahresabschluss Checklist: How to manage your first annual accounts
- Lohnsteuer: Get to know all about wage tax in Germany
- Size classes according to the German Commercial Code (HGB): Rights and obligations for limited liability companies
- What’s tax deductible for a self-employed person in Germany?
- Company taxation in Germany: A breakdown of taxes by legal form
- What is a BWA and how should my company use it?
Back to Accountancy Contents
Einzelunternehmen (sole proprietorships etc)
- An overview of taxes for sole proprietorships (Einzelunternehmen)
- EÜR: Everything you need to know about the Einnahmenüberschussrechnung
- Steuern: How much in tax do you pay as a self-employed person in Germany?
Back to Accountancy Contents.
EOFY accounting for corporations (Jahresabschluss)
- Creating a Jahresabschluss (the German equivalent of an annual financial statement): What you need to know
- Jahresabschluss Checklist: How to manage your first annual accounts
- Double-entry bookkeeping for entrepreneurs: An introduction
Back to Accountancy Contents
EÜR accounting for non-incorporated businesses
- An overview of taxes for sole proprietorships (Einzelunternehmen)
- EÜR: Everything you need to know about the Einnahmenüberschussrechnung
- Single-entry bookkeeping: What every entrepreneur should know
Back to Accountancy Contents
Holding companies
Back to Accountancy Contents.
Payroll (Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung)
Back to Accountancy Contents.
Tax (Steuern)
- An overview of taxes for sole proprietorships (Einzelunternehmen)
- EÜR: Everything you need to know about the Einnahmenüberschussrechnung
- Lohnsteuer: Get to know all about wage tax in Germany
- Optimising taxes with holding structures in Germany: How it works
- Steuern: How much in tax do you pay as a self-employed person in Germany?
- What’s tax deductible for a self-employed person in Germany?
- Company taxation in Germany: A breakdown of taxes by legal form
Back to Accountancy Contents.
Tax optimisation
- Optimising taxes with holding structures in Germany: How it works
- Steuern: How much in tax do you pay as a self-employed person in Germany?
- What’s tax deductible for a self-employed person in Germany?
Back to Accountancy Contents.
UG
- Accounting for a UG: How to do it yourself
- Creating a Jahresabschluss (the German equivalent of an annual financial statement): What you need to know
- Jahresabschluss Checklist: How to manage your first annual accounts
- Lohnsteuer: Get to know all about wage tax in Germany
- Optimising taxes with holding structures in Germany: How it works
- Size classes according to the German Commercial Code (HGB): Rights and obligations for limited liability companies
- Steuern: How much in tax do you pay as a self-employed person in Germany?
- What’s tax deductible for a self-employed person in Germany?
- Double-entry bookkeeping for entrepreneurs: An introduction
Back to Accountancy Contents.
Back to top.
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 watch this space!
- Assessing company names: Is my company name still available?
- How can I protect my company’s name in Germany?
- Trade Insurance Institutions (Berufsgenossenschaften): Index of Competencies
- How to find investors in Germany or: What is the best funding strategy for my company?
- What’s with compulsory insurance (Pflichtversicherung) for the self-employed & freelancers?
