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SOLUTIONS
BUSINESS IN GERMANY

Setting up and operating a business in Germany

We advise international companies on establishing and operating a business in Germany, from the choice of legal structure and company formation to contracts, employment and regulatory requirements. One partner-level contact coordinates the process in English and liaises with German authorities and counterparties.
Plan your market entry

What needs to come together for a German market entry

A German market entry consists of several legal and operational steps. The structure, documents, responsibilities and timetable need to be aligned from the outset.

MANY STEPS, ONE OBJECTIVE

The legal form, incorporation, commercial register, bank account, permits, contracts and first hires are interdependent. Their sequence has a direct effect on the timetable for becoming operational.

MULTIPLE PARTIES, DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS

Notaries, commercial registers, banks, public authorities, landlords, contractual partners and internal stakeholders all follow their own procedures, timelines and documentation requirements.

DELAYS AT THE INTERFACES

Delays often arise at the interfaces between the notary, bank, register, authorities and internal approval processes. Missing documents or the wrong sequence can extend the timetable by several weeks.

INTEGRATION INTO EXISTING GROUP STRUCTURES

The German setup must fit the requirements of the wider corporate group. This includes legal, organisational and operational aspects such as reporting lines, governance, compliance standards and internal approval processes.

EARLY DECISIONS HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES

Decisions taken under time pressure at the outset can be difficult and costly to correct later. A well-structured setup from the beginning helps avoid unnecessary delays, additional costs and operational friction.

ALIGNING LEGAL, CORPORATE AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The individual tasks are usually manageable; the challenge lies in their interaction. Legal requirements, internal approvals and operational implementation need to fit together at the right time.

Our legal solution for entering the German market

We coordinate the corporate setup and legal launch of your German business, aligning the sequence, documents and deadlines with your internal processes and headquarters.

MARKET ENTRY & COMPANY FORMATION

We coordinate the corporate steps from the initial structural decision to a registered and operational German entity.

  • Advice on the appropriate legal form, financing structure and corporate setup
  • Preparation and filing of incorporation documents, including registration with the commercial register
  • Coordination of notarial appointments and support with opening a business bank account
  • Temporary registered office for the setup phase, if required

OPERATIONS, EMPLOYMENT & COMPLIANCE

We establish the contractual and regulatory foundations for operations and integration into the existing group structure.

  • Contracts relating to the market entry, including lease, supply and service agreements
  • German employment contracts and initial HR documentation
  • Review of regulatory requirements, including sector-specific licences
  • Coordination with your international headquarters on governance and reporting

Our process

Step 1 of 4

01

Scope & strategy

In the initial consultation, we discuss the business model, timetable and group requirements. On that basis, we define the legal form, structure and scope of the formation project.
02

Formation & registration

We prepare the incorporation documents, coordinate the notarial appointment and manage the commercial-register filing through to registration.
03

Operational setup

In parallel, we prepare the key operational agreements and initial employment documentation and review the relevant regulatory requirements.
04

Ongoing partnership

After launch, we can continue to support the German business as a permanent external legal function.
Lawyer Sebastian Harschneck in a safety vest talking at a container terminal

Planning your market entry in Germany?

Whether you are assessing the market or preparing a specific incorporation, we map the required legal steps, dependencies and expected scope of work.

Discuss your plans

What you gain

The objective is a registered German entity with the legal framework needed to begin operations and integrate into the wider corporate group.

  1. A FULLY OPERATIONAL GERMAN COMPANY

    Registered in the commercial register and equipped with the key contracts, permits and employment documentation for launch.

  2. ONE RESPONSIBLE POINT OF CONTACT

    One partner-level contact coordinates the workstreams and connects headquarters with the German parties involved.

  3. TRANSPARENT COSTS AND EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION

    An agreed scope and fee framework, with direct communication throughout the project.

  4. FLEXIBLE ENGAGEMENT MODELS

    Mandate and fee structures tailored to the scope of your German market entry, from a defined formation project to ongoing legal support.

  5. A LONG-TERM LEGAL PARTNER IN GERMANY

    If required, we continue to support your business after market entry as an external legal department and reliable point of contact for your German operations.
Berlin skyline with TV tower and Brandenburg Gate above the tree-lined Strasse des 17. Juni

CASE STUDY

Stores, Soap & Setup: a Natural Cosmetics Group in Germany

From the German subsidiary and the first hires to the opening of the first stores.

Read the case study

Request a no-obligation consultation on your market entry in Germany

We support you from the initial structural decision to the operational launch of the German entity and, if required, beyond, through one partner-level contact.

  • Karina Malancea
    Karina Malancea
    Employment Law Specialist
    Get in touch
  • Sebastian Harschneck
    Sebastian Harschneck
    Managing Partner · Corporate & Public Commercial Law
    Get in touch
Reichstag building in Berlin with German flags on the Spree riverbank

Everything you need to know about “Business in Germany” at a glance.

Download brochure (PDF)

Questions about the process of entering the German market

The following answers provide an initial overview of typical processes, timelines and legal topics when entering the German market.

In the initial conversation, we clarify the business model, timetable, intended presence and group requirements. From this, we derive the appropriate structure, scope and next steps.

Once all required documents are available, formation usually takes several weeks, depending on the circumstances. The timetable is influenced in particular by the notarial appointment, bank-account opening and the commercial register’s processing time.

We advise on the structure, prepare the formation documents, coordinate the notary and commercial register, and support the first operational agreements and employment documentation.

We align governance, reporting and group-compliant structures with your international headquarters.

Yes. If you wish, we provide ongoing support as your external point of contact for your business in Germany.

Related

Corporate Law & M&A → Employment Law for Employers → External In-house Counsel → International Workforce Deployment →

Articles on Business in Germany

Contact

Get in touch

Send us a message. We will get back to you within one working day.

Or give us a call:

T +49 911 569 61-0
contact@maxfeld.legal

Maxfeld.legal

Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Leipziger Platz 21
90491 Nuremberg

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