Company formation & legal forms

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

GbR meaning: two puzzle pieces joining into one shared piece
Company formation

GbR meaning: what is a GbR, explained simply?

What the abbreviation GbR stands for, what a German civil-law partnership is in legal terms and how it works day to day: liability, taxes, representation, pros and cons.

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GmbH profit distribution: a coin split into three pieces of different sizes
Company formation

GmbH profit distribution: rules, calculation and example

Who owns the profit of a GmbH, who decides on the payout and how is it split? Rules, the calculation with a table, taxes and losses at a glance.

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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? How the two legal forms differ on liability, capital, costs and taxes, 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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