DE — Germany · European Market Entry

Germany company registration — a complete loop from filing to compliance.

End-to-end Germany GmbH / UG registration, VAT and OSS tax compliance, EPR and bank account setup for Chinese cross-border and outbound businesses. Fully remote — no travel to Germany — with transparent pricing.

Book a free consultation → See the process

20+ European countries Licensed accounting & legal team End-to-end in your language 99% application success rate

Registry Brief

Legal formGmbH / UG

RegistryHandelsregister

Min. capital€25,000 / €1

Timeline4–8 wks

Standard rates19% VAT · ~30% corp.

ProcessFully remote · no travel

JWHELP · Germany Registry Brief● Remote-friendly

01 / Services

Choose the right structure

From company form to tax compliance, we give sellers at every stage a clear path to landing.

001

GmbHLimited Liability Company

Germany's most common company form, for owners seeking long-term growth and strong credibility. Capital is paid in instalments and shareholders' personal assets are legally protected.

Minimum capital €25,000
1 to unlimited shareholders
Highest commercial credibility
Ideal for B2B and long-term operations
Eligible for a German business bank account

Service fee from€2,800excl. notary & official fees

002

UGMini-GmbH

Germany’s "light-capital" company, with capital as low as €1. Ideal for new sellers entering the German market fast, with the option to upgrade to a GmbH later.

Capital from as little as €1
Limited liability
Low cost, fast start
Great for Amazon and marketplace sellers
Upgradable to GmbH

Service fee from€1,680excl. notary & official fees

003

Tax ComplianceFull Package

Covers VAT registration, OSS filing, EPR packaging responsibility, EORI application and ongoing filing — keeping your European business fully compliant.

German VAT number application
EU OSS unified filing
EPR packaging registration
EORI operator number
Quarterly filing service

Monthly compliance from€480incl. quarterly filing

02 / Compare

GmbH vs. UG, choose precisely

Both offer limited-liability protection; the difference is in capital threshold, credibility and bank acceptance. The table below helps you decide quickly.

Criteria	GmbH	UG (haftungsbeschränkt)	Best for
Minimum capital	€25,000 (half payable upfront)	€1	UG suits the startup phase
Liability	Limited to company assets	Limited to company assets	Both limited liability
Market credibility	Highest	Medium	GmbH preferred for B2B
Timeline	4–8 weeks	3–6 weeks	—
Notary fees	~€700–1,500	~€400–800	—
Business bank account	Easy	Relatively hard	GmbH more widely accepted
Profit retention	None required	Retain 25% of profit up to €25,000	Choose GmbH for the long term
Amazon marketplaces	All EU marketplaces	All EU marketplaces	Both work

03 / Process

Clear and transparent, every step

From first consultation to bank account — five stages, each with clear deliverables.

Week 1

Consultation & structure design

We assess your business model, ownership and tax needs and design the optimal structure — including a GmbH or UG recommendation, registered address and director arrangements.

You providePassport scan / business description / expected revenue / ownership split

Weeks 1–2

Document prep & notarization

We draft the articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag) and shareholder agreements and coordinate notarization at a German notary or the German embassy in China. Entirely remote.

Key documentsArticles of association / shareholder register / bank intent letter / criminal-record certificate (if required)

Weeks 2–5

Commercial Register filing (Handelsregister)

After notarization we file with the German Commercial Register (Amtsgericht). A GmbH must first deposit its capital. Once registered, the company becomes a legal entity.

OutputCommercial register number (HRB) / certificate of incorporation / copy of articles

Weeks 3–6

Tax registration & VAT application

We apply to the German tax office (Finanzamt) for a tax number (Steuernummer) and VAT ID (USt-IdNr.), with EORI and OSS registration in parallel.

OutputGerman tax number / VAT number / EORI number / OSS confirmation

After completion

Bank account & ongoing compliance

We help open accounts with major German banks (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank) or fintech options (Wise Business, Airwallex), plus ongoing tax-filing services.

OngoingQuarterly VAT filing / annual financial report / compliance alerts

04 / European Tax Guide

Key tax concepts explained

The German and EU tax concepts cross-border sellers meet most often, condensed into quick-reference entries.

VAT

Germany VAT basics

Germany's standard VAT rate is 19%; some goods (food, books) get a reduced 7% rate. Registration is mandatory above €22,000 in annual sales — and required for FBA storage even below that threshold.

Standard 19% · Reduced 7% · Threshold €22,000/yr

OSS Filing

EU OSS one-stop filing

Since July 2021, ecommerce sellers can file VAT for all EU countries through OSS in a single member state. Above €10,000 in annual EU sales, you charge each destination country’s rate.

EU-wide threshold €10,000/yr · Quarterly · One window

Corporate Tax

Germany corporate tax structure

A GmbH / UG pays corporate income tax (Körperschaftsteuer) of 15%, a 5.5% solidarity surcharge on top, and trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) of roughly 14–17% — an effective combined rate of about 28–32%.

Effective rate ~28–32% · incl. trade tax

EPR Compliance

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Selling packaged goods in Germany requires registration in the LUCID packaging register and recycling fees. Batteries also need EAR registration. Non-compliance brings a sales ban, and Amazon now verifies EPR status.

LUCID mandatory · Suspension if non-compliant · Amazon-enforced

Import Duty

EU Common Customs Tariff (CCT)

The EU applies a common external tariff; once goods clear any member state they move freely within the EU. The average duty is ~3–4%, with wide variation across categories like electronics and textiles. The HS code determines the rate.

EU avg duty ~3–4% · HS code is key

EORI Number

EU operator registration number

EORI is the unique identifier in the EU customs system, required for import/export clearance. A German company can apply after tax registration; it is usually issued in 2–5 business days and works across the entire EU.

Required for clearance · EU-wide · 2–5 business days

Transfer Pricing

Related-party transactions & transfer pricing

Transactions between related China–Germany companies must follow the arm’s-length principle. Germany has strict transfer-pricing documentation rules; companies above €50M in annual turnover must file local and master files.

Arm’s-length principle · Strict documentation · €50M threshold

Tax Treaty

China–Germany tax treaty (DBA)

China and Germany have a double-taxation treaty with preferential withholding rates on dividends, interest and royalties. Using it well can meaningfully lower the tax on repatriating cross-border profit.

Dividend WHT 5%/10% · Interest 10% · Royalties 6%/10%

05 / FAQ

Clear answers to key questions

RegistrationDo I need to travel to Germany to register a GmbH?
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Not at all. The whole process can be done remotely. You notarize a power of attorney (Vollmacht) at the German embassy/consulate in China (Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Chengdu) or a local notary, and we handle everything else in Germany. The process takes about 4–8 weeks.
FeesWhat is the total cost to register a German company?
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It depends on the company type. A GmbH is typically €4,500–€8,000, including service fee (from €2,800), notary fee (€700–1,500), commercial-register fee (~€300) and capital (at least €12,500 deposited). A UG is usually €2,500–€4,000. We quote transparently, with no hidden fees.
TaxDo I need a VAT number to sell on Amazon Germany?
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Yes. If you store inventory in Germany via Amazon FBA, a German VAT number is mandatory regardless of sales volume — this is required by German tax law, independent of the €22,000 threshold. Since 2021 Amazon also requires a valid VAT number or it suspends selling rights.
BankingHow do I open a bank account after registering?
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Traditional German banks (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank) are strict with companies whose directors are non-residents, usually requiring a business plan and an interview. We recommend combining a traditional German bank for EU-compliant receipts with digital accounts like Wise Business or Airwallex for daily operations. A GmbH has a higher success rate than a UG.
ComplianceWhat is OSS, and do I need to register?
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OSS (One-Stop Shop) is a 2021 EU VAT reform. If you sell B2C across multiple EU countries with over €10,000 in annual sales, you charge each destination country’s VAT rate. Through OSS you file for all EU countries from a single German portal, with no need to register separately in each country.
ComplianceWhat happens if I skip EPR packaging registration?
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The consequences are serious. Germany’s Packaging Act (VerpackG) requires every company selling packaged goods in Germany to register in LUCID and pay recycling fees. Without it you face a sales ban, fines up to €200,000 and Amazon suspension. Since 2022 Amazon Germany requires a valid LUCID number from all sellers.
StructureShould I choose a GmbH or a UG?
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It depends on your stage and goals. If you are entering Germany for the first time, on a limited budget, with under €500K expected annual sales, start with a UG and upgrade to a GmbH once the market is proven. If you already have steady business, need B2B partnerships, a German bank account or a long-term brand, a GmbH is the better fit. We advise based on your situation during the initial consultation.
TaxHow are profits repatriated to China, and what is the tax?
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When a German company pays dividends to Chinese shareholders, the China–Germany treaty sets withholding at 5% (holding ≥25%) or 10% otherwise. After remittance, corporate shareholders often enjoy participation exemption, while individual shareholders include it in personal income tax. Plan your ownership and profit-distribution strategy before registering to use the treaty and lower your overall tax.

Germany company registration — a complete loop from filing to compliance.

Choose the right structure

GmbH vs. UG, choose precisely

Clear and transparent, every step

Key tax concepts explained

Clear answers to key questions

Start your Germany journey

Free initial consultation
30 minutes to tailor your plan

Germany company registration — a complete loop from filing to compliance.

Choose the right structure

GmbH vs. UG, choose precisely

Clear and transparent, every step

Key tax concepts explained

Clear answers to key questions

Start your Germany journey

Free initial consultation30 minutes to tailor your plan

Free initial consultation
30 minutes to tailor your plan