If you wish to establish a German Limited Company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, in short: GmbH) from abroad, you will probably not get very far without the assistance of experienced professional service providers. For more than 10 years the German law firm Graf & Partners advises and assists foreign shareholders and company directors on how to:
- establish a German company or subsidiary,
- buy a German company or
- open a branch office or engage a fiduciary / personal representative.
To speed up the procedure we have put together a list of frequently asked questions in regards to company formation in Germany (Download: FAQ regarding formation of a German GmbH) as well as a checklist which shows all the information and documents that are required to establish a German company (Download: Company_Formation_Order_Form_English).
German statutory law is extremely strict with regard to consumer protection and data protection, especially when it comes to business websites and online shops. You should have your German internet presence checked to avoid costly cease and desist letters coming from your German competitors. More here.
In regard to practical matters of getting the business going you may be interested in the services of the specialised firm Friendly Germans (UK) Limited and their services for foreign entrepreneurs (see here). Finally, check out the posting “10 Things to do when starting a German Business“.
– – – –
The law firm Graf & Partners and its German-English litigation department Graf Legal was established in 2003 and has many years of experience with British-German and US-German business and corporate matters, including the representation of clients in M&A transactions, litigation, contentious probate matters or labour law disputes throughout Germany. If you wish us to provide advice on German law or represent you in court or arbitration proceedings in Germany, please call German lawyer Bernhard Schmeilzl, LL.M. (Leicester) on +49 941 463 7070.
[…] If you have decided to set up a German subsidiary or register a branch office of your existing company in Germany, the list of FAQs and the formation checklist in this article will guide you through the procedure. […]
[…] expert blog for German-British legal issues CCL has published a very helpful guide for english speaking clients on how to establish a German Limited Liability Company (GmbH). The FAQ list explains in detail what a foreign entrepreneur and future shareholder needs to […]
[…] you have read our previous postings “Guide for doing Business in Germany“, “Establish a German Limited Company (GmbH): FAQ and Checklist“, “Taxation for UK Expats or Freelancers in Germany” and “Open a Business […]
[…] – Establish a German Limited Company (GmbH): FAQ and Checklist […]
[…] – Establish a German Limited Company (GmbH): FAQ and Checklist […]
[…] case, you might want to opt for a German GMBH (for details on how to establish a German company see here). Vice versa, if you are a German entrepreneur doing business in the UK, you might want to consider […]
[…] ranges from pre-nuptial and marriage agreements, to any real estate related transaction, to the formation of German companies and stock […]
[…] Establish a German Limited Company (GmbH): FAQ and Checklist […]
[…] Establish a German Limited Company (GmbH): FAQ and Checklist […]