For international founders who want a German entity — a GmbH, UG, or branch — without managing every counterparty themselves. We coordinate the introductions and the base communications: notary, IHK pre-check, tax advisor, registered office, banking partners.
Designed for founders who are not relocating. You stay where you are. We coordinate the timeline, the German-language communication, and the partner network on the ground.
Honest expectation setting matters more on a formation engagement than on most other things. Here is what sits outside this scope:
No. There is no residence requirement to own or to be the Geschäftsführer (managing director) of a German GmbH. International founders regularly own and run German entities while based abroad. See our GmbH formation guide for the broader picture.
For the notary appointment, presence in Germany is the standard route. Notarial deeds for GmbH formation are formalities the German legal framework treats with care, and our coordinated process plans this around your travel schedule. Other steps (IHK pre-check, tax advisor introduction, address setup, banking introduction) are handled remotely.
A GmbH requires €25,000 minimum share capital (Stammkapital), of which at least €12,500 must be paid in at incorporation. For founders preferring lower upfront capital, the UG (haftungsbeschränkt) variant starts from €1 minimum share capital and converts to a GmbH once retained earnings reach €25,000. Selection between the two is part of the discovery call. For setup cost detail beyond share capital, see our setup costs guide.
Realistic end-to-end timelines run roughly six to ten weeks from kickoff to a registered GmbH with a registered office and a Steuerberater introduced. Banking introductions and Finanzamt timing (handled by the introduced Steuerberater) are the most variable steps; we plan around them rather than promise around them.
No. A non-resident foreign national can be the sole Geschäftsführer of a German GmbH. There is no nationality or residency requirement for the position. We discuss the practical implications (reachability for ongoing decisions, signing rights, tax considerations) during the discovery call.
Before incorporation, we coordinate a pre-check with the locally competent Industrie- und Handelskammer to confirm the proposed company name is acceptable and the planned business activity is correctly classified. Catching naming or classification issues before the notary appointment avoids costly re-drafting and delays.
Yes. Every German entity needs a registered office (Sitz). Depending on your situation, we can arrange a physical office or a virtual office address that meets German requirements for HRB registration, tax mail, and correspondence. The right choice depends on your sector, banking expectations, and future plans, which we discuss during the discovery call.
No. We coordinate banking introductions for foreign-founded GmbHs and brief the bank in advance. The final account-opening decision depends on the bank's KYC and onboarding process and remains entirely with the bank. Realistic timing and bank selection are part of the planning conversation. For context on the German banking landscape, see our German business banking guide.
No. Our role is the coordination and introductions that get the entity registered with the right partners in place. The introduced Steuerberater handles the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung, tax registration with the Finanzamt, and all ongoing bookkeeping and tax filings on a separate engagement with you.
English and German fluently. We can also assist in Turkish, Georgian, Polish, Russian, and Chinese where helpful. All documentation and communication with the notary, IHK, Finanzamt, and the introduced partners is coordinated by us — you do not need to speak German to use the service.
Four quick questions. Takes about a minute. No commitment — we follow up to discuss next steps.
If you're not sure, pick the last option — we can talk through it on the call.
Start with a free 30-minute discovery call. We map out scope, timeline, and the right entity for your situation. No commitment, no obligation — clarity before you decide.
S&S Consult
