Doing Business in Germany

When preparing to enter the German market, businesses should carefully consider a number of issues, including: 

• Which legal entity will best suit the business
• How business income and profits will be taxed in Germany
• How to register a company in Germany
• Which corporate compliance laws apply
• How to obtain German employment visas for key employees (business immigration to Germany)
• Which German customs laws apply to imports?
• How to hire staff in Germany and which key employment laws apply
• Key aspects of German commercial law which may affect strategic business decisions in the start-up phase and beyond
• Protection of the venture's new and future intellectual property under German IP law

WINHELLER Attorneys at Law & Tax Advisors have helped over 8.000 clients with these and other legal issues related to doing business in Germany. Whatever your needs – whether you want advice on where to base your company or the details of German labor law – we can provide legal services that are tailored to your business’s unique needs and goals.

To provide you with an overview of the key aspects of doing business in Germany, we have prepared a guide, Doing Business and Investing in Germany, which you can download for free.

Topics covered include:

Advantages of Doing Business in Germany 
Find out about the advantages of choosing Germany as business location and the characteristics of five important major German cities: Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Karlsruhe.

How to successfully enter the German business market, including sections on:

• the German visa application process and how to obtain work and residency permits
• tips for identifying compliance issues and adopting appropriate plans and procedures
• how to select the appropriate German legal entity, including the advantages and disadvantages of a representative office, a stock corporation (AG) and a limited (GmbH)
• what key aspects of German law to consider when drafting or reviewing German business contracts, including distribution and employment agreements
• special regulations pertaining to banking, finance and insurance brokering
• how to protect your trademark from infringement in Germany
• managing and pursuing lawsuits and litigation in German courts, including dispute resolution mechanisms

Whatever your German business law issue may be, please feel free to contact us. Our team of experienced attorneys have the local and international experience and perspective you need to make your German venture a success and guard against liabilities and missteps. If you are considering starting a German nonprofit, please see our other page regarding the creation and management of nonprofit organizations in Germany.