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Company formation in Germany
Comprehensive assistance in company formation, including banking services
How to form a company in Germany
1
Document submission
You submit to us necessary documents of the future founders and directors for the purposes of company formation in Germany and opening a bank account in Germany
2
Payment of services
Payment of our services for company formation in Germany and/or bank account assistance in Germany
3
Company formation
We register a new company in Germany for you. Upon completion of the registraion corporate documents are either delivered to you or submitted to a bank for the subsequent opening of a bank account
4
Bank account opening
In case you request an assistance with a bank account, we arrange an interview at the bank for you, inform you about the date of the visit and accompany you on your way to the bank. After the bank account is opened and active you receive corporate documents of the formed company as well as the access to the bank account
Key aspects to consider prior to incorporating a company in Germany
Interest wihtholding tax rate is 0%.
1. Founders that would like to register a company in Germany can either be resident or non-resident in Germany. Founders can be either individuals or legal entities.
2. A resident or a non-resident individual can be a company director in Germany. It is not required to register a company in Germany with a resident individual as one of its shareholders or directors.
3. One individual can register a company in Germany and simultaneously be a shareholder and a director in this company if such company is registered as a GmbH (a limited liability company).
4. There is no requirement for creating substance in Germany - no need to hire local employees or rent an office in order to in order to establish a company in Germany or to conduct business in Germany.
5. Minimum share capital that is required to register a company in Germany as a GmbH (a limited liability company) is EUR 25,000. Minimum share capital that is required to register a company in Germany as a Unternehmensgesellschaft (mini-GmbH) is just EUR 1.
6. Information about company founders, shareholders and directors after company registration in Germany is complete is publicly available in the state corporate register.
7. We can help you register a company in Germany remotely, on the basis of a power of attorney. It is necessary for the director of the new company to travel to Berlin for 1 day in order to open a corporate bank account.
2. A resident or a non-resident individual can be a company director in Germany. It is not required to register a company in Germany with a resident individual as one of its shareholders or directors.
3. One individual can register a company in Germany and simultaneously be a shareholder and a director in this company if such company is registered as a GmbH (a limited liability company).
4. There is no requirement for creating substance in Germany - no need to hire local employees or rent an office in order to in order to establish a company in Germany or to conduct business in Germany.
5. Minimum share capital that is required to register a company in Germany as a GmbH (a limited liability company) is EUR 25,000. Minimum share capital that is required to register a company in Germany as a Unternehmensgesellschaft (mini-GmbH) is just EUR 1.
6. Information about company founders, shareholders and directors after company registration in Germany is complete is publicly available in the state corporate register.
7. We can help you register a company in Germany remotely, on the basis of a power of attorney. It is necessary for the director of the new company to travel to Berlin for 1 day in order to open a corporate bank account.
Cost of services
Formation of a GmbH
Timeframe - 12 business days
Timeframe - 12 business days
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Advantages of forming a company in Germany
Attractive business-environment
- Germany has a leading and the largest economy in the European Union
- Access to all major EU markets
- Highly-developed infrastructure
- Wide range of investment benefits for foreign investors
- High quality of production
- High quality of life
- Low inflation rate
Stability and security
- Political and financial stability
- Secure legal and justice systems
- Comprehensive protection of property right
- Comprehensive personal security
- Investment protection
Tax benefits
- Interest withholding tax rate is 0%
- Multiple double tax treaties
No foreign exchange controls
- Germany joined the Euro area, which allows it to secure free capital transfer in any currency. Individuals and business-entities, either resident or non-resident in Germany may open bank accounts in German banks in any currency
Ease of establishing and doing business
- Minimum share capital requirement for the Unternehmergesellschaft (mini-GmbH) is just EUR 1
- 100% foreign ownership of a company is available
- Bank account assistance in leading European banks is available
More about Germany
Germany is the most populated state in the European Union. It is located in central part of Northern Europe and borders 9 states - Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and Czech Republic. Territory of Germany amounts to 357,000 square kilometers.
Total population of Germany currently amounts to around 83 million people.
Total population of Germany currently amounts to around 83 million people.
Official currency of Germany is euro (EUR).
GDP growth in 2018 amounted to around 3%.
Traditionally German economy is focused on production. The activity of various local enterprises is aimed at the creation of innovative technologies for industrial manufacturing. Germany remains a producing country, the main exporting state of the European Union.
Germany is one of the main destinations for foreign investments in Europe due to a highly-developed infrastructure, highly-qualified work force, a stable, predictable and transparent legal and justice systems, as well as due to the world-class R&D.
GDP growth in 2018 amounted to around 3%.
Traditionally German economy is focused on production. The activity of various local enterprises is aimed at the creation of innovative technologies for industrial manufacturing. Germany remains a producing country, the main exporting state of the European Union.
Germany is one of the main destinations for foreign investments in Europe due to a highly-developed infrastructure, highly-qualified work force, a stable, predictable and transparent legal and justice systems, as well as due to the world-class R&D.
Main fields for doing business and investment in Germany are:
Establishment of a business-entity is also available for international trade, rendering of a wide range of services - from financial consulting and EMI services to online-marketing and advertising.
Restricted for foreign entrepreneurs are the following sectors:
- engineering sector
- chemical production
- car industry
- metallurgy
- food industry
- consumer electronic devices
- IT
- real estate and construction.
Establishment of a business-entity is also available for international trade, rendering of a wide range of services - from financial consulting and EMI services to online-marketing and advertising.
Restricted for foreign entrepreneurs are the following sectors:
- operating activity of airports and seaports
- telecommunication services
- production, shipment and storage of oil products
- production, maintenance and modernization of military equipment and weapons
- production, sale and transfer of natural gas and electricity
- postal services.
- Corporate income tax - 15%. 5.5% solidarity surcharge applies to this tax rate. Tax returns are filed on an annual basis. Advance income tax payments are made on a quarterly basis
- Trade tax - Base tax rate 3.5% multiplied by a municipal tax rate from 250% up to 580%. Advance trade tax payments are made on a quarterly basis
- Dividend withholding tax - Standard rate 25%
- Interest withholding tax - Standard tax rate 0%
- Royalties withholding tax - Standard rate 15%
- Capital gains tax - 25%. 5.5% solidarity surcharge applies to this tax rate
- VAT - Standard tax rate 19% or reduced rates from 0% up to 7% or tax exempt. Tax returns are filed on a monthly, a quarterly or an annual basis
- Personal income tax - from 14% up to 45%. 5.5% solidarity surcharge applies to these tax rates.
Key types of business-entities in Germany are the following:
1. General partnership (Offene Handelsgesellschaft - oHG)
2. Limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft - KG)
3. Partnership limited by shares (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien)
3. Limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung - GmbH)
4. Public limited company (Aktiengesellschaft - AG)
5. Civil law company (Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts - GbR)
6. European company (Societas Europaea)
7. Branch office (Zweigniederlassung)
Individuals and business-entities, either resident or non-resident in Germany, may act as founders of business-entities in Germany. Most popular types of business-entities in Germany are GmbH and AG
To receive a detailed description of the company formation procedure in Germany and information about documents necessary for company formation in Germany please contact our experts.
1. General partnership (Offene Handelsgesellschaft - oHG)
2. Limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft - KG)
3. Partnership limited by shares (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien)
3. Limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung - GmbH)
4. Public limited company (Aktiengesellschaft - AG)
5. Civil law company (Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts - GbR)
6. European company (Societas Europaea)
7. Branch office (Zweigniederlassung)
Individuals and business-entities, either resident or non-resident in Germany, may act as founders of business-entities in Germany. Most popular types of business-entities in Germany are GmbH and AG
To receive a detailed description of the company formation procedure in Germany and information about documents necessary for company formation in Germany please contact our experts.
Send a request for company formation in Germany
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Phone: +44 20 8157 4037
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128 City Road,
London, EC1V 2NX
Phone: +44 20 8157 4037
Email: request@pil-services.com
