Skip to content

Incorporate your business in Germany

  • Get started sooner – Guided, end-to-end incorporation in Germany so you're set up and operating without delays.
  • Compliant and reliable – Incorporation that meets Handelsregister and Finanzamt requirements, handled correctly from day one.
  • Expert support – Guidance designed for international companies establishing a German subsidiary or entity.

Set up a subsidiary in Europe's largest economy, with speed, compliance, and expert support – all in one platform.

We respect your data. By submitting this form, you agree that we will contact you in relation to our products and services, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Trusted by global businesses

Storii
Mpl
Cloudsek
Razorpay
Assembled
WilsonLearning
GmLighting
Isochem
ProlongLash
Mystifly
Seismic
Fairs
Remote
PineLabs
Jhana
Avea
Wetstone
Pharmapac
Composio
LoulouLollipop
Passes
Aestus
Frex
Aspire
RifaAi
Skydo
Trx
Npw
Mojo
CleanAir
CoxLondon
SportsHeads
Skydesk

Benefits

Why choose Commenda for your Germany incorporation?

Designed for global business integration

We help structure your German entity to align with your global operations - ensuring a setup built for foreign-owned businesses from the start.

Get expert support for entity and tax setup

From obtaining your German tax number (Steuernummer) and VAT ID (USt-IdNr.) to payroll setup and ongoing advisory, we manage every step through the platform.

Stay compliant, all year round

We support your business with full compliance services so your entity stays in good standing with German authorities year-round.

Entity types

Choose the right business structure for your company

A GmbH – Germany's equivalent of a private limited company – is the most widely used structure for foreign-owned subsidiaries in Germany. It offers strong liability protection, global credibility, and is the standard expectation of German banks, enterprise customers, and partners. Formation requires notarization by a German notary and registration in the local Commercial Register (Handelsregister).

Benefits

  • Shareholders' liability is limited to their capital contributions
  • No German residency requirement for shareholders or managing directors – fully foreign-owned structures are permitted
  • Perpetual existence – ownership changes don't affect the company's continuity
  • Well-recognized and trusted by German banks, enterprise customers, and government bodies
  • Access to Germany's EU single market presence and its network of tax treaties

Highlights

  • Minimum share capital of €25,000 required – at least €12,500 must be paid in at the time of incorporation
  • All formation documents must be notarized by a German notary (Notar), which adds time and cost compared to jurisdictions like the UK or US
  • Must publish annual financial statements in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger)
  • Subject to corporate income tax plus trade tax (Gewerbesteuer), which varies by municipality – combined effective rate is typically 28–33%
  • All official filings and company records are maintained in German
German landmark illustration shown alongside the entity-type details

For your business

What we offer

  • World-map illustration showing Commenda entities across multiple countries

    Incorporate and structure entities across 70+ countries

    Guided incorporation workflows with built-in compliance checks – from choosing the right entity type to completing the paperwork.

  • Commenda document management UI showing audit-ready status and a compliance timeline

    Save time with automated document management

    Commenda automates data collection, document generation, and filing – so your team does more with fewer hours.

  • Commenda tax filings UI showing VAT and GST returns across jurisdictions

    Automate your indirect tax calculations and filings

    Commenda automatically calculates the correct tax for every transaction and handles filings with minimal manual effort.

G2 Reviews badge — rated by the teams using it

G2 Reviews

Rated by the teams using it

Scores from finance and legal leads handling compliance globally.

  • Entity Management

    9.6

    #1 Ranked

    Set up your entity and keep it in good standing. Filings, records, and renewals tracked in one place.

  • Corporate Tax & Compliance

    9.1

    Top Rated

    Every tax deadline on one calendar. Corporate returns and statutory filings handled without the back-and-forth.

  • Sales Tax & VAT/GST

    9.4

    Commenda Leads

    Register for VAT, GST, and sales tax in every country you operate in, and manage it all in one place.

From the field

What finance leaders are saying

Portrait of Matt Preston, Financial Controller at TRX
TRX
“The platform works exactly the way I need it to. I have one team member who manages all of our exemption certificates, and that functionality has been particularly efficient for us. It allows him to handle everything seamlessly, making the handoff significantly easier.”
Matt Preston, CPA

Financial Controller, TRX

Timeline

From kickoff to open for business

Incorporating in a new country means unfamiliar filings, local requirements, and moving parts across multiple vendors. We handle all of it so you don’t have to.

  1. Onboarding

    Your details submitted once. Entity name checked, documents collected, filings kicked off. No back-and-forth.

  2. Entity Confirmed

    Incorporation done. Formation documents, company number, and registered address live in your Commenda dashboard.

  3. Next Up

    Tax ID obtained, VAT enrollment filed, banking guidance underway. Compliance calendar set for your jurisdiction.

  4. Open For Business

    You’re operational in a new market. Without a single trip to a government office.

Frequently asked questions

Germany is the largest economy in Europe and the third largest in the world by GDP, offering access to over 80 million consumers domestically and the broader EU single market of 450 million people. It's a global hub for manufacturing, technology, automotive, chemicals, and professional services – with a highly skilled workforce, robust legal protections, and a reliable regulatory environment. A German entity gives your business full access to EU market rights, making it a strategic base for pan-European operations.

Commenda manages the entire incorporation process – from choosing between a GmbH and UG, to coordinating notarization, Commercial Register filing, registered office setup, and guided tax number and VAT ID enrollment. We work with German legal and accounting professionals so your entity is correctly established from day one, without the complexity of navigating German bureaucracy alone.

Most German incorporations are completed within 3–5 weeks. The process involves notarization of your formation documents by a German notary, followed by Commercial Register (Handelsregister) registration, which typically takes 1–2 weeks to process. Commenda coordinates each stage to keep the process moving as efficiently as possible.

In most cases, no. While German law requires notarization of formation documents by a German notary, this can often be handled via power of attorney – allowing foreign founders to authorize a representative to sign on their behalf without traveling to Germany. Commenda coordinates this process as part of the incorporation service.

Yes – every German GmbH and UG must have a registered business address (Geschäftsadresse) in Germany. This address is listed on the public Commercial Register and used for official correspondence from the Finanzamt and other authorities. Commenda provides a German registered address as part of the incorporation package.

After incorporating, your entity will need to file annual financial statements (which must be published in the Federal Gazette), submit corporate income tax and trade tax returns, and handle VAT filings on a monthly or quarterly basis. Germany's compliance framework is thorough – Commenda's managed compliance service ensures every deadline is met and your entity remains in good standing with both the Handelsregister and the Finanzamt.

Yes – there are no nationality or residency requirements to own or manage a German GmbH or UG. Foreign nationals and foreign-incorporated entities can be 100% shareholders and managing directors. Certain regulated industries such as financial services and telecommunications have licensing requirements, but for most businesses, full foreign ownership is straightforward. Commenda's team helps you structure ownership correctly from the start.

Join hundreds of international businesses that expanded to Germany with Commenda managing every step.