GmbH Formation Services in Germany
Liesegang & Partner will assist you with the formation of a GmbH in Germany, from drawing up the articles of association, notarization, opening a bank account, obtaining a business address to entry in the commercial register and business registration. Remote GmbH formation and bank account opening is possible.
Service overview for GmbH formation / Process overview for the GmbH formation / Learn more
| Costs of notarization and registration | included (The costs are calculated on the basis of a share capital of €25,000 and up to 2 shareholders. An additional payment may be required if conditions change.) |
|---|---|
| Minimum share capital | 25000 EUR (12.500 EUR must be deposited) |
| Bank account | optional |
| Tax and Accounting service | optional |
| Registration | yes, Commercial Register |
| VAT ID registration | optional |
Why Form a GmbH in Germany?
Germany is an attractive destination for business formation due to its: - **Strong Economy**: As Europe’s largest economy, Germany offers a stable and thriving market.
- Strategic Location: Centrally located in Europe, it provides easy access to other major markets.
- Skilled Workforce: Benefit from a highly skilled and educated workforce.
- Supportive Legal Framework: Robust legal protections and incentives for businesses.
A GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) is the most popular business structure in Germany due to its limited liability, flexibility, and professionalism.
Steps to Form a GmbH in Germany
1. Choose a Company Name
Ensure the name is unique and complies with German naming regulations. *Our experts assist you in checking and securing a compliant name.*
2. Prepare a Business Plan
Draft a detailed business plan outlining your financial projections, marketing strategies, and organizational structure. *We offer guidance in creating a comprehensive business plan.
3. Draft the Articles of Association
Prepare the articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag) detailing the company’s structure and rules. *Our legal team will draft and review your articles of association.
4. Notarize the Articles of Association
Have your articles of association certified by a notary. *We facilitate notarization services to ensure legal compliance.
5. Open a Business Bank Account
Open a corporate bank account and deposit the required share capital (minimum €25,000). *We assist in opening a business bank account with a reputable bank.*
6. Register Your Company
Submit the necessary documents to the local trade office (Gewerbeamt) and the commercial register (Handelsregister). *Our team handles the registration process for you.*
7. Obtain Necessary Licenses
Apply for any specific licenses or permits required for your business. *We identify and assist in obtaining required licenses.*
8. Register for Social Security
Register your company with the social security system and obtain an employer identification number (Betriebsnummer). *We manage the social security registration.*
9. VAT Registration
Register for VAT if your annual turnover exceeds the threshold. *Our experts will guide you through the VAT registration process.*
10. Business Insurance
Consider various insurance options, including liability and employee insurance. *We provide advice on suitable insurance options for your business.*
11. Join Local Chamber of Commerce
Join the local Chamber of Commerce for networking and support. *We help you connect with the local Chamber of Commerce.*
12. Set Up Payroll
Establish a compliant payroll system if you plan to hire employees. *Our team assists in setting up a payroll system.*
13. Secure Office Space
Find a suitable physical location for your business operations. *We support you in securing the right office space.*
14. Compliance and Reporting
Ensure compliance with German tax and accounting regulations and timely reporting. *We provide ongoing compliance and reporting services.*
Ask us! We will gladly advise you.
Marco Rössel
Attorney-at-Law, certified specialist lawyer for commercial and corporate law, Partner
Benefits of GmbH Formation with Liesegang & Partner
Expert Guidance
Our experienced advisors provide tailored advice to ensure smooth GmbH formation.
Comprehensive Services
From document preparation to regulatory compliance, we handle it all.
Time Efficiency
Streamlined processes to expedite your company formation.
Legal Compliance
Ensuring all legal requirements are met to avoid future issues.
Overview of services for the GmbH - formation
We provide you with comprehensive legal advice in the preparation of the formation.
We check the admissibility of the company name with the Chamber of Commerce and - optionally - we research collisions with trademarks, domains and other company names.
We help you (optionally) to find a suitable address.
We prepare the founding documents: Articles of association, list of shareholders, declaration of the managing director, power of attorney for the shareholders, if applicable.
We arrange a notary appointment, notarize the formation for you if desired or accompany you.
We help you to open a bank account (optional).
We register the GmbH for entry into the Business Register (Gewerbeamt) and send you the registration certificate.
Optional: we register the company to Transparency Register.
Optional: we register the company with the Trade Licensing Office.
Optional: we send you an offer for comprehensive tax consulting and accounting.
What Our Clients Say
How is the process for the GmbH formation in Germany?
We check the availability of the company name
After having your instructions to register the GmbH we first check the availability of the required company name by preliminary enquiries to the responsible court of registration and/or responsible chamber of commerce and industry. On request, we also check for conflicting brands, companies and domains.
We prepare the statutes / articles of association of the company
Together with a notary, we then compile the GmbH company formation documents on the basis of your information provided when commissioning us, which include the foundation certificate, the company articles of association, the list of partners and the Companies Register application. If the GmbH foundation is to be carried out by an authorised representative or trustee, we also prepare the necessary authorisation or trustee contract for you. We agree all the drafts with you, and if necessary explain the contents and consequences of the relevant regulations.
If one of the share holders of the GmbH is a foreign company, further documents are required for notarial certification. The Court of Registry requires confirmations that the foreign company and its representatives lawfully exist. Depending on the country of origin, you require officially certified copies, an endorsement and/or a certified translation. We will then tell you which requirements apply for your limited liability company.
We notarize the company formation deed
The actual GmbH formation takes place when the foundation certificate of the limited liability company and the articles of association are notarially certified. The company exists from this moment, although only as a limited liability company under foundation (GmbH i.Gr.) until entry in the Companies Register. After certification, the limited liability company under foundation opens a business account, into which the partner or partners pay the capital investment assumed.
The Managing Director of the newly formed GmbH usually takes part in the notarization meeting, and at this point signs the application to the Companies Register. If the Managing Director is not present in person, he can also sign the application with another notary, or in a German embassy or consulate. The application to the Companies Register is submitted electronically to the court of registration by the notary as soon as the payment of the capital investment has been confirmed to the notary.
We help you to get a bank account - Remote opening available
The company needs a bank account to deposit the share capital. If you have ordered it we will help you to open an account. There are banks who accept bank account opening remotely.
We file the company registration request
The managing directors declaration and the formation deed will be filed to register the company. Finally, the court of registration checks the application to the Companies Register and the foundation documents submitted, and if there are no objections, registers the GmbH in the Companies Register. The company suffix “under foundation” (i.Gr.) is omitted on entry.
According to our experience, it takes only 2 to 4 weeks once we have your instructions until registration of the GmbH in the Companies Register.
We will send you the confirmation for the company registration
It takes about 2 weeks until we get the confirmation from the company register after we filed the application. You will get a confirmation in form of a record of the company register.
After the company registration
Once the company is registered it must be registered for business (Gewerbeanmeldung), for taxes and in the transparency register. We can do this for you as well.
General overview about a GmbH
The limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung – GmbH) is the most common form of the capital company in the Federal Republic of Germany. It combines the liability limitation of the partners with clear administration costs and company structures. The limited liability company is also a common form of group company due to the answerability of the directors.
Tax advisory services and accounting for a GmbH
After the registration of your GmbH at the Companies Register you will have to register the company at the financial authorities (Finanzamt) and the trade office (Gewerbeamt).
We will refer you to a relaible tax advisory firm for accounting and monthly and annual tax declarations, payroll services, VAT etc..
Here is an example for tax advisory and accounting costs for a small GmbH. Your costs may vary depending on your monthly turnover, the number of monthly transactions and employees. You will receive an individual quote on request.
FAQ regarding company formation in Germany
a) No presence required for notarization of company formation
It is not required that the shareholder(s) or the managing director(s) are present in Germany for the company formation. We would use notarized powers of attorney for the shareholders then. This PoA can be signed by the shareholders before a notary public abroad. Furthermore, the appointed managing director must sign a declaration. This declaration can also be signed before a notary public abroad.
b) Registered office requirements for a GmbH
The company will need a registered office in Germany. Usually, a virtual office is not sufficient for tax purposes. We can refer you to a provider like www.regus.com. Costs start from 200 EUR per month.
c) Bank account
It is generally required that the managing director personally open the bank account. The exact procedure depends on the bank at which the business bank account is opened. In some cases it can be possible to remotely open an account at a bank which has a German branch. We have also a contact to a bank which opens the bank account completely remotely.
d) Residence permit, Visa
A residence permit or address is neither required for the shareholder nor the managing director. If you have questions regarding residence or work permits, please contact the German embassy in your country. We do not advise regarding immigration.
e) Time frame and further process
After we have received your instructions, we will contact you and prepare the formation documents. Depending on how fast the (notarized) documents (PoA from shareholders, managing director’s declaration) are sent back to us we can conduct the company formation within a few business days. Afterwards it may take between two and four weeks to get it registered.
f) Managing Director / Shareholders
At least one managing director and one shareholder must be appointed for a UG or GmbH. Managing director and shareholder can be the same person. Their nationality is not relevant.
