Company formation, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate governance for foreign investors and businesses.
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Yes — a local lawyer or notary is required for company registration in most European countries. English-speaking corporate lawyers can handle the entire process.
Typical documents include due diligence reports, share purchase agreements, regulatory filings, and shareholder resolutions. Your lawyer will guide you through jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Germany's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsGermany's most popular startup structure is the UG (haftungsbeschränkt) — €1 minimum capital, full liability protection, mandatory 25% annual profit retention until €25,000 capital reached. GmbH requires €25,000 (half upfront). Both require notarisation. Formation takes 4–8 weeks. Total cost UG: ~€500–800; GmbH: ~€1,500–3,500.
| Entity | Min. Capital | Liability | Notar req. | Formation cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | €1 | Limited | Yes (€100–300) | €500–1,000 | Lean startups, solo founders |
| GmbH | €25,000 | Limited | Yes (€500–2,000) | €1,500–4,000 | Standard SME, investors |
| AG | €50,000 | Limited | Yes (€2,000+) | €10,000–30,000 | Public listing, large company |
| GbR | None | Unlimited (personal) | No | €0–500 | Small partnerships, freelancers |
| Einzelunternehmen | None | Unlimited (personal) | No | €0–100 | Sole traders, freelancers |
| Step | Item | Cost (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notar: Gründungsprotokoll (standard Satzung) | €500–800 |
| 2 | Handelsregister registration (Amtsgericht) | €150 |
| 3 | Trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) | €20–50 |
| 4 | Rechtsanwalt: Shareholder agreement (Gesellschaftervereinbarung) | €1,500–5,000 |
| 5 | Steuerberater: Finanzamt registration, VAT ID | €300–800 |
| 6 | Bank account setup (Geschäftskonto) | €0–200/yr |
| Total formation costs (excl. Stammkapital) | €2,500–7,000 | |
Facts: TechCo Inc. (Delaware) wants to establish a German subsidiary (GmbH) in Berlin for a 5-person engineering team. Budget for formation: under €10,000.
Structure chosen: GmbH with €25,000 Stammkapital (€12,500 paid in at formation). Custom Satzung with IP assignment clause (important: all German employee IP must be explicitly assigned under ArbnErfG § 4). Three shareholders.
Costs: Notar (custom 3-shareholder Satzung) €1,200 · Handelsregister €150 · Rechtsanwalt (SHA + IP policy) €3,500 · Steuerberater setup €600 · Bank (Deutsche Bank Geschäftskonto) €0 first year. Total: €5,450 + €12,500 Stammkapital.
Timeline: Notar appointment (1 week lead time) → Handelsregister provisional registration (48 hrs via notary's digital submission) → Full registration with Handelsregister-Nummer: 4–6 weeks → Finanzamt Steuernummer: 2–4 weeks → VAT-ID (Umsatzsteuer-ID): 4–8 weeks (needed for B2B invoicing).
Critical error avoided: Team initially tried to use an online formation service (€300 flat). Abandoned when the RA confirmed the IP assignment clause and investor-rights Gesellschaftervereinbarung could not be covered by a Musterprotokoll.
→ Model formation costs with our GmbH Cost Calculator.
