Germany flag Germany: Operating a Business in Germany

Starting a business in Germany

Legal Forms of Companies

Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung (GmbH): limited liability company
Number of partners: No minimum: one or more partners.
Capital (max/min): EUR 25,000 minimum with at least half fully paid up at the creation of the company.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed by all shareholders.
Aktiengesellschaft (AG): public limited company
Number of partners: No minimum: one or more partners.
Capital (max/min): EUR 50,000 minimum with at least one quarter fully paid up at the creation of the company.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed by all shareholders.
Offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG): general partnership
Number of partners: Minimum: two; no maximum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is joint and indefinite on the obligations and debts of the company.
Kommanditgesellschat (KG): limited joint-stock partnership
Number of partners: Minimum: two; no maximum. There are two types of partners: active partners and silent partners.
Capital (max/min): EUR 50,000.
Shareholders and liability: The liability of active partners is personal and indefinite. The liability of silent partners is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company Germany OECD
Procedures (number) 9.0 5.2
Time (days) 8.0 9.5

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

 
The Competent Organisation
The Common register portal of the German federal states.
For Further Information
Doing Business Website, Information related to procedures to start a business in Germany
Common Register Portal of the Federal States
Company Register
 

Financial Information Directories

Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses

Handelsregister - Common register portal of German Federal States

Kompass Germany - Business directory for Germany

Unternehmenregister - Register of German companies

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Latest Update: March 2024