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The abbreviation GmbH stands for Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, which in English means a ‘limited liability company’ or ‘company with limited liability’. The limited liability that the GmbH legal structure offers is the main reason why so many entrepreneurs choose this legal form for their businesses.

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Chapter 1: Business visas, residence & work permits Chapter 2: Business legal forms in Germany Chapter 3: Preparing to start a business Chapter 4: Forming a business in Germany Chapter 5: Post formation

For over a decade I have been advising companies on how to do business in Germany. I’d be happy to answer your questions about the GmbH in a one-on-one consultation.

Shareholders must deposit their share capital into the GmbH’s bank account. The receipt for the deposit is then submitted to the notary who formed the company for you. Only then can the company be entered into the Handelsregister (commercial register).

Incorporating a company with share capital below €25,000 is risky because the partners are liable for damages with their personal assets up to the amount of the outstanding capital contribution (i.e. if only €12,500 share capital was deposited, the shareholders are personally financially liable up to €12,500).

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Hi, I’m Andreas and I’ve been advising businesses in Germany for over a decade. I’d be happy to call you and answer any questions you have in a one-on-one consultation.

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Limited liability means the financial liability of a person is limited to a set amount. In the case of the GmbH, liability is limited to a shareholder’s share capital contribution. For a GmbH, limited liability means that the company is liable for damages solely with its assets and not with the private assets of the individual shareholders. The financial risk for the shareholder is much easier to calculate since they are liable only with the amount of Stammeinlage (share capital) that is recorded in the GmbH’s articles of association. To save taxes on rental income, it is possible to form a real estate GmbH.

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No. Someone who does not have the full share capital of €25,000 can nevertheless form a GmbH if they have at least half of the capital, i.e. €12,500. However, the missing share capital should be deposited as soon as possible.

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A GmbH is a company legal form and is the peer of the AG (Aktiengesellschaft = stock corporation) and the KGaA (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien = partnership limited by shares). The owner of a GmbH is called a Gesellschafter (shareholder or partner). The main feature of the GmbH is its limited liability – shareholders cannot be held liable for damages with their private assets. A gGmbH is the non-profit counterpart of a regular limited liability company.

Hi, I’m Andreas and I’ve been advising businesses in Germany for over a decade. I’d be happy to call you and answer any questions you have in a one-on-one consultation.

There is no set cost for forming a GmbH, as notary fees, etc., can vary. The lion’s share of the costs comes from its share capital. The amount is determined by legislation designed to offer various options that involve different risks.

Like the GmbH, the UG also has a non-profit version – the gUG. If you want to form a UG for a charitable purpose, consider this option.

Suppose you do not have the minimum share capital but want to get started as soon as possible. In that case, the UG (haftungsbeschränkt) – haftungsbeschränkt means limited liability in English – may be a solution for you.

Colloquially called the “mini-GmbH”, the UG can be formed with just €1- (one euro). But, it does come with the legal obligation to put 25% of its profits into a special reserve account until its share capital reaches €25,000.

To incorporate a GmbH, you need at least €25,000 in share capital, which can be contributed by one or more shareholders. The individual capital contributions of each shareholder do not have to be the same but can vary. For example, Founder A can contribute €20,000 while Founder B contributes €5,000 to the share capital.