Company formation & legal forms

Guides on choosing a legal form and setting up your company — from sole proprietorship to GmbH, UG and beyond.

What is a UG (haftungsbeschränkt)?
Company formation

What is a UG (haftungsbeschränkt)?

What is a UG (haftungsbeschränkt)? How to set one up from 1 euro of share capital, what the reserve obligation means and when a GmbH suits you better.

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Legal form of a Kleingewerbe in Germany: sole proprietorship for one founder, GbR for several
Company formation

Legal form of a Kleingewerbe: which one do you actually have?

A Kleingewerbe is not a legal form of its own. Which legal form sits behind it, what belongs in Elster and in the Anlage EÜR, and how it differs from Kleinunternehmer status.

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GbR and GmbH compared
Company formation

GbR or GmbH: which legal form fits your plan?

GbR or GmbH? What a GbR means, what setting one up costs, how liability works and when a GmbH pays off. With a comparison table.

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GmbH meaning: what is a GmbH?
Company formation

GmbH meaning: what is a GmbH? Simply explained

What does GmbH mean and what does the abbreviation stand for? Here you learn what a GmbH is, how it works, who is liable and which requirements apply.

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GmbH liability: company assets and the private assets of shareholders and managing directors
Company formation

GmbH liability: who is liable in a German GmbH?

Who is liable in a GmbH? When shareholders and managing directors answer personally, and what role company assets and private assets play.

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Setting up an association in Germany
Company formation

How to set up an association (Verein) in Germany: the complete 2026 guide

How to set up an association (Verein) in Germany: step-by-step guide to the statutes, founding meeting, register of associations, costs and charitable status in 2026.

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How to start a startup in Germany
Company formation

How to Start a Startup in Germany: The Complete Guide for 2026

How to start a startup in Germany: a step-by-step guide to your business idea, legal form, financing, taxes and business account for 2026.

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How to set up a GbR in Germany
Company formation

How to Set Up a GbR in Germany: The Complete 2026 Guide

Planning to set up a GbR? Learn everything about requirements, costs, taxes, registration and the advantages of the German civil law partnership.

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Setting up a German stock corporation (AG)
Company formation

Setting up a German stock corporation (AG)

Setting up an AG: requirements, starting capital, liability and the formation process of the stock corporation, plus its key advantages and tips for founders.

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