Germany GmbH Setup, Step by Step

Germany GmbH Setup, Step by Step

A German GmbH is the gold standard among EU vehicles. The process is more involved than other jurisdictions, but it remains straightforward when prepared properly.

Step 1 — Notary

All shareholders sign the Gesellschaftsvertrag in front of a German notary (or remotely via apostille). The notary then files with the Handelsregister.

Step 2 — Capital deposit

€25,000 minimum (€12,500 paid up). The bank issues a confirmation letter that the notary forwards to the registry.

Step 3 — Registry & tax

Handelsregister entry takes 2–4 weeks; tax number (Steuernummer) follows 4–6 weeks later. Total turn-key timeline: 6–8 weeks.

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