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German Corporate Law

German Corporate Law

What is an “eingetragener Verein” (e.V.) under German Law

Ho to establish a German Non-Profit Organisation Most businesses in Germany are organised either as corporations (GmbH or AG) or as partnerships (GBR, OHG, KG, PartG), for an overview see here. Sometimes, however, one comes across organisations which have the letters "e.V." after their name. This stands for "eingetragener Verein" meaning "registered association". An e.V. under German law is a Körperschaft (corporation), which is defined as being a legal entity which is separate from its…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 13, 2015
Business in GermanyBusiness Tax & Fiscal ObligationsGerman Corporate LawGerman Labor LawGerman Tax LawStarting BusinessStarting or Expanding Business

When starting a Business in Germany: Don’t Forget the Trade Register Notification (Gewerbeanmeldung)

Your new German company is finally registered? Gratulations! But you are far from being done. Under German law (see section 14 Gewerbeordnung, i.e. German Trade Regulation), the commencement of a business activity must be notified in writing (Gewerbeanmeldung) to the local Ordnungsamt (Trades Office), which is a department of the municipal government, for example the city of Munich. This notification obligation also applies to any change in the business (e.g. move, modification to the nature…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 31, 2014
Business in GermanyGerman Corporate LawGerman LawStarting Business

How to read a German Commercial Register Extract

German Company Register provides reliable, up to date information on all German businesses But it is a difficult read, even for native speakers. Every German company, partnership and association must be officially registered in the Handelsregister (Commercial Register). In contrast to England, where this information is collected centrally by Companies House, Germany uses a decentralised system. The "original" records of a company are kept at the respective local District Court (Amtsgericht) where the company has…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
September 25, 2014
Business in GermanyBusiness Tax & Fiscal ObligationsGerman Corporate LawGerman Labor LawGerman Tax LawStarting BusinessStarting or Expanding Business

London Chamber of Commerce: 10 practical tips for doing business in Germany

In this issue of „London Business Matters“, the London Chamber of Commerce's monthly magazine, German corporate and business lawyer Bernhard Schmeilzl has compiled "10 Top Tips when starting a Business in Germany". The magazine also contains helpful information about the trading relations between the UK and Germany. Just browse the online issue. For more details on how to establish a business in Germany please see the articles below 3 Ways to expand your Business to…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
July 23, 2014
Business in GermanyBusiness Tax & Fiscal ObligationsGerman Corporate LawStarting BusinessStarting or Expanding Business

3 Ways to expand your Business to Germany

Establish a real German Company, register a Branch Office or start with a mere Representative Office If you want to sell your goods or services to Germans it is in most cases a huge advantage to be actually present in Germany. A German business address and phone number shows that you are seriously committed to doing business in Germany long term and thus builds trust with customers and business partners. But how to go about…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
July 9, 2014
Business in GermanyBusiness Tax & Fiscal ObligationsGerman Corporate LawStarting Business

Establish a German Limited Company (GmbH): FAQ and Checklist

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…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
August 7, 2013
Business in GermanyGerman Corporate LawStarting or Expanding BusinessTrustee & Escrow Services

Buying a German Company: A quick Checklist

How to acquire a German Business In case you think about buying or merging with an existing German enterprise there are many legal and tax aspects to consider (for the formation of a new Germany company see here). Below we have compiled a few issues from the perspective of a German lawyer that may be of interest for a potential buyer: What kind of legal entity is the target company? There are various legal forms…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
May 13, 2013
Business in GermanyBusiness Tax & Fiscal ObligationsContract TemplatesGerman Corporate LawGerman Labor LawStarting BusinessStarting or Expanding Business

Checklist: Formation of a German Company. And then what?

Setting up a German Limited Liability Company and everything that comes with it The most popular company form in Germany is the "Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung" which translates "company with limited liability". We explain the formation process here (see PDF guideline) and provide a sample set of documents (articles of association, statutes etc.) here. If you have decided to set up a German subsidiary or register a branch office of your existing company in Germany,…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 17, 2012
Business in GermanyGerman Corporate LawGerman LawStarting Business

What is a GmbH? The German Limited Liability Company explained

Checklist for your Startup in Germany "Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung" (in short: GmbH) means Limited Liability Company. It is the most popular company form in Germany and protects - as long as the legal rules are being obeyed - its shareholders from any personal liability. For an overview of German company forms see here. However, in contrast to most other EU member states, there is still a hefty minimum capital requirement of 25,000 Euro, half…
Bernhard Schmeilzl
October 4, 2012