The below passage was too useful for me. I feel like I just came to Germany yesterday...
It take me several months to play this game...ich verstehe es nicht...
Credit to :http://startupgermany.tumblr.com/
Starting Your Company in Germany - How to Make it Happen
If your first-hand experience in Germany goes beyond the infamous beer tasting cruise down the Rhine River you have probably learned it by now: getting things done in this country is complicated. German bureaucrats are not exactly known for extending a warm welcome to newcomers from abroad, let alone being helpful when it comes to filling out those dreadful forms asking you to consent to aStatusfeststellungsverfahren or other 30-letter words.
Granted, starting a company won’t be as easy as ordering Currywurstdown at the train station, but it shouldn’t require small business entrepreneurs to spend loads of money on tax professionals and lawyers, or bugging their German friends to help them understand the difference between Vermögensvergleich andEinnahmenüberschussrechnung (because believe us, they won’t know).
We feel your pain and we are here to help.
Depending on the size and legal form of your future company, starting a business in Germany can require a considerable number of initial registrations with various public agencies. However, if you just touched down in the Deutschland you are most likely interested in what you need to do to start your own small business asap (btw, the following guides apply to freelancers/contractors alike). Here’s how to register such an Einzelunternehmen (sole proprietorship):
First, you need to register in the city you live in. To do so, you will need to present the following documents to your local Bürgerbüro(citizen office):
(1) A rental contract (e.g. a sublet contract from your roommate)
(2) A valid photo ID (i.e. your passport)
(3) The completed Anmeldung form (see below for an English language guide)
Once registered, you will need to register with the Finanzamt (tax authorities) and the Gewerbeamt (trade licensing office) (see English language guides below). Depending on the type of business you are planning to start, you may only need to register with the Finanzamt (for now), for example if you are simply looking to start your own French language teaching service you will not need to show up at theGewerbeamt.
Since there is no way around your local Finanzamt we suggest that you report to them first by mailing the completed Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung form. Sad but true, the below guide is the first ever comprehensive English language guide to filling out this 8-page tax monster. The guide will help you determine whether an additional registration with the Gewerbeamt is necessary. If so, you will need to show up once again in person and present the following documents
(1) A valid photo ID (i.e. your passport)
(2) Your Meldebescheinigung (proof of registration in Germany)
(3) The completed Gewerbeanmeldung form (business registration) (see English language guide below)
Summing up: in order to start your own small business/work as a self-employed entrepreneur (which also includes doing contract/freelance work for another company) in Germany you will need to:
(1) Show up to the Bürgerbüro in person
(2) Send a letter to the Finanzamt, and potentially
(3) Show up at the Gewerbeamt in person
Both the Bürgerbüro and the Gewerbeamt typically issue all relevant forms on the spot. The Finanzamt takes about two to three weeks to send your Steuernummer (German tax ID) in the mail. This number will have to go on your invoices (see previous post).
You have probably noticed that we omitted one very important step: obtaining a work visa for self-employed entrepreneurs – arguably the most challenging steps of them all. Neither did we address the additional administrative burden associated with starting a company other than an Einzelunternehmen, e.g. the popular GmbH.
You are right. We definitely owe you another post. So be sure to check back for updates.
Here are your guides for today:
Steuerliche Erfassung form for tax authorities (English guide)
Gewerbeanmeldung form for trade licensing office (English guide)
