Company and ownership
A GmbH is a separate legal entity with limited liability. A branch remains part of the foreign head-office company. A GmbH requires a German business address and completion of registration procedures.
What the tax model should cover
A German model should account for the components of corporate taxation, VAT, employment and intragroup transactions. Compare a subsidiary with a branch by their overall consequences rather than one headline rate.
Registration and ongoing obligations
Review founders, managers, articles and signing authority. Include notarial formalities, the Commercial Register and local accounting arrangements in the launch plan.
Banking, payments and documentation
For bank discussions we prepare an ownership chart, business description, contracts and expected cash flows. We map counterparties’ countries, currencies and sources of funds. Check the availability of the specific bank and payment product before launch; the bank makes the account-opening decision.
Personal plans and implementation
If the project includes relocation or the owner working for the company, assess the immigration route and personal tax residence separately. The launch plan should identify the sequence of steps, local providers, documents and recurring costs. A short business overview and the participants’ intended roles are enough for the initial discussion.
Before we talk
What helps us get started.
A short overview is enough. We can agree the documents and details after discussing your needs.
- Activities, markets and expected counterparties
- Owners, management and where decisions will be made
- Expected income, costs and international payments
- Premises, staffing and personal relocation needs
Common questions
Where should structure selection start?
Start with the activity, owners and geography of operations, then compare legal form, tax treatment and ongoing administration costs.
Can timing and cost be confirmed immediately?
We estimate these after reviewing the participants, activity and required local procedures, separating launch costs from recurring expenses.
Official sources
Primary sources for your own review.
This guide provides general information as of the review date. Company, tax and relocation decisions require an assessment of the circumstances, applicable law and current requirements.