Which legal form fits, how much capital you need and how much support makes sense depends on your project. We provide organisational and administrative support and coordinate with the notary, bank, tax adviser and other parties.
The routes differ in liability, formalities and ongoing duties. The right form for a project rarely follows from its size alone.
No minimum capital and no notary. Trade registration, or for liberal professions registration with the tax office. You are personally liable with your own assets.
Legal forms comparedLiability limited to the company’s assets, with a lower statutory minimum capital than the GmbH. Comes with a reserve obligation and the same ongoing duties as a GmbH.
UG or GmbHLiability limited to the company’s assets, share capital at least €25,000, at least half paid in before filing. Notary, commercial register, trade office, tax office.
GmbH formationFor founders who do not live in Germany: power of attorney, documents from abroad, the banking route and a German business address. For work with India, see also intercultural consulting.
Founding from abroadA consultant starting alone, a trade business with staff, an online shop holding stock, or two shareholders with an investor: each raises different questions. Some small projects need a limited company because of the liability risk; some larger ones sensibly start as a sole proprietorship.
Key questions: How high is your liability risk? Are you founding alone or with partners? How much money does the project need until the first payments arrive? Do you need a licence, for example for a regulated activity? Who are your customers?
The legal and tax assessment belongs with licensed lawyers and tax advisers. We help you sort the questions, prepare documents and take the steps in the right order.
You need an address for service for the commercial register, trade office, tax office and your imprint? Our address at Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 33 in Reutlingen can be booked independently of any formation: Business address €69, Business address Digital €99 or Business address International €149, each net per month plus VAT, no set-up fee, mail received Monday to Friday 9:00-16:00.
About the business address
You describe your project briefly via the form, by phone or on WhatsApp.
We clarify what you want to set up, who is involved and which steps lie ahead.
You receive an individual quote for our support. External costs are shown separately.
Once instructed, we organise the steps and coordinate with the notary, bank and tax adviser.
It depends on your project: liability risk, number of people involved, capital needs, customers and plans for the coming years. We explain the differences and their practical consequences. Legal and tax advice on the choice of legal form comes from licensed lawyers and tax advisers, with whom we coordinate on request.
No. The business address with mail handling can be booked on its own, at €69, €99 or €149 net per month plus VAT depending on the tier. Before it starts, we identify you as required under the German Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Our fee depends on the scope and complexity of your project. You receive an individual quote before you instruct us. You can estimate the external costs for notary, commercial register and trade office in advance with the formation cost calculator.
By law a GmbH needs at least €25,000, a UG from €1, and a sole proprietorship none. How much capital your project actually needs depends on start-up costs, payment terms and investment. A low minimum capital does not replace adequate financing.
Last checked: 6 November 2026, Christoph Schuler. Further reading: German federal start-up portal (German), IHK Reutlingen, GmbH Act (English translation).
Write briefly what you want to set up and where you stand. We come back with the next steps and an individual quote.