How to Register a Company in Germany (GmbH (or UG haftungsbeschränkt)) as a Foreign Founder
Setting up a Germany GmbH (or UG haftungsbeschränkt) is more straightforward than it first looks — if you know which route you actually qualify for. Most guides quote a single headline figure and stop there, leaving founders to discover the real conditions the hard way.
BIZ TRP confirms your real route before you spend anything on documents: the right capital structure, the signature or representation path that fits you, and the compliance steps that come after registration — so the company you register is the company you can actually run.
Decision quick facts
- Entity
- GmbH (or UG haftungsbeschränkt)
- Capital
- 25000 EUR (min. 12500 EUR paid in) — UG variant from 1 EUR
- Remote formation
- Partial — A notarial deed, via remote video-notarization or a local Power of Attorney
- Corporate tax
- ~30–33% combined — 15% federal + surcharge + trade tax
- VAT
- 19%
- Registration time
- ~1–3 weeks — Ask us for the current figure for your case.
Find your exact path
Select one option in each group. The checklist will update without collecting identity data.
What you need before you start
- A registered address in Germany Required
- Standard capital requirement confirmed for your structure Required
- A notarial deed, via remote video-notarization or a local Power of Attorney If applicable
- UBO / beneficial-owner information Required
- Foreign legal-entity documents (translated/apostilled where applicable) If applicable
From confirmed route to registered company
Confirm the route
Founder type, governance, address, and the actual signing method for your case.
Prepare documents
Only the translations, certifications, and UBO material your profile actually requires.
Apply the capital rule
The correct amount, payment timing, and any reduced-capital conditions.
Execute and file
Sign through the accepted channel and file with the Handelsregister (local courts).
Go operational
Banking, tax/VAT activation, and any licences are separate steps — plan for them, don't assume them.
What you actually pay
Government fees
- Capital requirement (if applicable, fully paid in)
- 25000 EUR (min. 12500 EUR paid in)
- Registry filing fee
- Ask us for the current figure
- Notarization / POA arrangements
- Ask us for the current figure
BIZ TRP fees
- Route confirmation & document preparation
- Ask us for a quote — from €120/hour
- Registration coordination
- Ask us for a quote — from €120/hour
Where this usually goes wrong
The 15% federal rate is not the real tax burden. Combined with the solidarity surcharge and municipal trade tax, the effective rate is confirmed far above the headline 15% — approximately 30–33%.
"Remote" gets assumed rather than confirmed. Not every signer automatically has what's needed for a remote route. We check the signing route before it becomes a filing delay, not after.
Registration gets treated as the finish line. The company exists, but banking, tax activation, and licensing are separate work — founders who assume otherwise lose weeks they didn't budget for.
Your action checklist
Ready to confirm your route?
BIZ TRP reviews your route, prepares and coordinates your formation documents, and handles POA/notary or local-partner steps where needed.
Request your Germany route review Email usCommon questions
Is 25000 EUR (min. 12500 EUR paid in) always the capital requirement?
That's the standard figure as researched — UG variant from 1 EUR Confirm which route applies to your specific case before relying on it.
Can I register fully remotely?
It depends on the notarial route available to you — remote video-notarization where offered, or a notarial deed, via remote video-notarization or a local Power of Attorney.
Does registration mean I can start operating immediately?
No. Registration creates the legal entity. Banking, tax/VAT activation, and any licences are separate steps.