start a gmbh in germany
TRANSCRIPT
Start a GmbH in Germany A presentation brought to youby LawyersGermany.com
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What is a GmbH in Germany?
• A GmbH is the abbreviation for Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, which refers to the German limited liability company.
• The German GmbH is the most common legal entity chosen for incorporation in Germany.
• A GmbH falls under the regulations available for commercial companies.
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Characteristics of a German GmbH >>
• The German GmbH is a separate legal entity than its shareholders and it can own assets and different types of properties.
• The GmbH in Germany can be set up by a single shareholder, who can be a foreign investor.
• The share capital of a limited liability company in Germany is established at EUR 25,000.
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>> Characteristics of a German GmbH
• It is required to deposit at least 50% of the share capital during the incorporation process.
• In order to do so, the investor will need to open a corporate bank account.
• Our lawyers in Germany can help foreign investors establish a GmbH in the country.
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Opening a German GmbH >>
• The incorporation procedure of a GmbH in Germany consists of:
drafting the articles of association;
notarize relevant documents;
register the documents at the Commercial Register Court.
• Our German lawyers can assist in drafting the company’s documents and also handle the entire company registration process.
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• Those who are interested in company formation in Germany should know that the procedure may last up to 2-3 weeks.
• The total costs of registration are estimated around EUR 800.
• It is highly recommended to receive assistance from a German lawyer.
• It is also necessary to appoint a director, who does not have to be a German citizen.
>> Opening a German GmbH
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The Articles of Incorporation in Germany • During the registration process, the
shareholders will have to sign the articles of incorporation, which contain the following data:
the company’s trading name; the company’s registered office; the object of activity; the share capital; the value of the shares; shareholder’s contributions to the
capital; provision referring to the usage of the
compulsory GmbH abbreviation.
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Register a GmbH in Germany
• A German limited liability company must be registered with the Commercial Register.
• The appointed directors will have to sign the application provided by the institution in the presence of a public notary in Germany.
• The company will be considered a legal entity following this procedure.
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Submit Documents at the Commercial Register
• In order to receive approval from the Commercial Register, the investor will need to submit the following documents:
notarized application form;
the articles of incorporation;
information on the director(s);
information on the shareholders;
shareholder’s nominal share values.
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Taxation of a GmbH in Germany
• A limited liability company in Germany is liable to taxation.
• The most important taxes are:
dividend tax;
solidarity surcharge;
trade tax;
corporate income tax.
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Business Consultancy in Germany
• Those who are interested to open a German company should take into consideration several legal and administrative aspects.
• Our German law firm can offer legal advice on many corporate aspects, such as obtaining business permits and licenses.
• Our attorneys can also perform due diligence procedures when purchasing a GmbH shelf company.
Thank you for your attention!
• For more information please contact us at:
(+44)203-287 0408 (for international clients)
www.lawyersgermany.com 12