Starting a business in Germany
Legal Forms of Companies
- Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung (GmbH): limited liability company
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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
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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
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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
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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.
Professional Associations
- General Professional Associations
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SIHK - South Westphalian Chamber of Commerce
BDA DIE ARBEITGEBER - Confederation of German Employers‘ Associations
BDI - Federation of German Industries
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
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The Common register portal of the German federal states.
- For Further Information
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Doing Business Website, Information related to procedures to start a business in Germany
Common Register Portal of the Federal States
Company Register
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Latest Update: January 2023