Legal Services
Our Incorporation Service
Incorporating a GmbH with a foreign shareholder is a standard transaction — but not a simple one. GmbH incorporation requires coordination between notary, Commercial Register court, tax office, bank and Transparency Register. For remote incorporation without travel, language barriers, unfamiliar German regulatory structures and tight timelines (typically 2–3 weeks for a new GmbH, days for a shelf company), local professional support is the decisive factor. We offer fixed-fee, fully remote GmbH incorporation so you know the total cost upfront.
Our incorporation service covers the entire process:
- Drafting and negotiating the articles of association
- Obtaining, reviewing and, where necessary, translating your foreign corporate documents
- Coordinating the notarisation appointment and representing you on the basis of a notarially certified power of attorney
- Assisting with share capital payment and account opening
- Assisting with filing the Commercial Register application and liaising with the court
- Trade registration and initial tax registration
- Filing the initial Transparency Register report
- Ongoing corporate law advice after registration
Recent Incorporations
How we've helped foreign founders
US-based tech founder incorporated a GmbH remotely in 10 business days. Managing director appointed in Delaware, articles drafted in German, filing completed via notary coordination.
Founder with existing operations in multiple EU countries consolidated German subsidiary structure. Share capital structured to avoid Sacheinlage complications. Filed within 1 week.
Joint venture between UK and German partners required careful beneficial ownership registration and managing director setup. Completed end-to-end without either partner visiting Germany.
Case summaries are anonymised. Each incorporation follows our fixed-fee service model and includes full coordination of notary, banking, and Commercial Register filings.
New GmbH or shelf company?
Both routes end with the same result: a German GmbH owned by you. They differ in speed, liquidity and paperwork.
| New GmbH | Shelf company | |
|---|---|---|
| Time until the company can act | Typically 2–3 weeks once the notarised powers of attorney are in | A matter of days once the documents are in |
| Share capital to pay | At least €12,500 of €25,000 before filing | The full €25,000 as part of the purchase price (it remains the company's equity) |
| Extra cost | None | Provider's premium, approx. €3,300–3,500 |
| Bank account (KYC) | Must be completed before the company can be registered | Can be completed after the acquisition |
| Shareholder documents go to | The Commercial Register court; legalisation and certified translations may be required | The German notary only, which tends to be more flexible |
| Usually the better choice if | You want to keep liquidity and time is less critical | You need the company quickly and the premium is acceptable |
Pricing
Fixed-Fee Legal Service
A fixed fee, agreed before work starts, for a new GmbH or the acquisition of a shelf company. Third-party costs are listed separately below.
Legal Service Fee (net)
- Standard set-up: one shareholder, standard articles of association€3,250
- Bespoke articles of association or several shareholders (first draft and one call to discuss it included)€4,900
Further revisions and work beyond the agreed scope: €350 per hour.
A 50% retainer is due before work starts; the remainder once the applications to the Commercial Register are filed.
Covers: articles drafting, notary coordination, Commercial Register filing, beneficial ownership registration
Not included:
- Notary and Commercial Register fees (approx. €900–1,400 in total, see below)
- Shelf company: the purchase price, i.e. the full share capital (€25,000, which remains the company's equity) plus the provider's premium (approx. €3,300–3,500)
- Translations
- Foreign notary, apostille and legalisation fees
- Advice on foreign law, tax and accounting (we can recommend specialists)
Statutory Costs (your responsibility)
- Notary and Commercial Register fees (Beurkundung, Handelsregister)€900–1,400
- Deposit at notary's trust accountVaries by structure
Statutory costs are paid directly to notaries and courts. They vary based on your GmbH structure, share capital, and the registration court handling your filing.
You have a single point of contact who takes responsibility for both the legal and the administrative side of your incorporation — so you do not have to coordinate between different service providers yourself.
Ready to get started?
Book a free 30-minute call. We'll go through your situation, answer your questions, and confirm next steps.
This guide is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice in any individual case.