Germany
SETTING UP IN BUSINESS Introduction If you’re a foreign investor and you want to open a German company, you have a broad spectrum of options. You could take a cautious view and start with a one-person sales office based within a serviced office (we can help you with this). If it doesn’t work out, you can easily withdraw without having invested very much capital. Or you could have the courage of your convictions, and enter the German market in a manner that makes clear you really mean business. Our company formation service makes it easy for you to establish whatever kind of German company you want, from a sole trader through to a partnership or corporation.
What are the main types of German company? There are four main forms of German business entity, and they are as follows: What are the main features of a GmbH company? What are the main features of an AG company? What are the main features of a partnership? What are the main features of a sole proprietor company? If I have a company in another country, can I set up a branch in Germany You certainly can, and it’s a popular move for foreign companies that aren’t quite certain about their long-term commitment to Germany. All you need to do if you want to establish a German branch office is to register with the commercial register and the local trade office. Bear in mind however – the parent company retains full responsibility for the branch on all legal and tax matters. Look at our tax planning section to see how our panel of German tax specialists can help you navigate your way through Germany’s complex fiscal laws. How easy is it to recruit staff in Germany? Germany is famed for the excellence of its technical training and apprenticeships are the norm in most industrial sectors. There is no shortage of qualified staff in most areas of Germany, particularly in the east of the country and in the Ruhr where unemployment is high. Most companies advertise jobs at the local government-run employment exchange but for specialist staff and senior management, you would be better advised to use an executive search agency. Please contact us for information about our recruitment service. What is the regulatory environment like? German businesses are heavily regulated. This is particularly true in the case of listed AG companies but all German companies, large and small, have to comply with detailed requirements laid out by the authorities. Government bodies oversee the activities of financial institutions such as banks and insurance offices, while most other industries are grouped around associations that regulate what their members can and cannot do. This is territory where it makes sense to tread carefully – contact us to see how our local advisers can help. Are there financial incentives available – and what about banking facilities? The federal government offers a wide range of incentive programs, including loans and grants, depending on the nature of the company and its intended location. Some areas of Germany offer capital investment grants of up to 50% to SMEs. It is also worth noting that local government incentives may be offered in the form of beneficial tax rates but these are not generally available in the major cities. Germany has world-class international banking facilities and the first step in opening a German company should be to open a local bank account – we can arrange this for you.
