WERUMO LIBRARY
Life and business
in Germany
Each article covers a specific task: what to prepare, which questions to ask and what to check before the next step.
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Found: 225 / 225
- Relocation5 min
Planning a move to Germany: how to connect housing, documents and deadlines
A workable preparation sequence: dependencies between tasks, who is responsible and a fallback scenario.
Read - Relocation3 min
How to choose a city in Germany that fits your life, not a ranking
Comparing cities by work, housing, family needs and everyday journeys.
Read - Relocation3 min
Budgeting for your first months in Germany: which costs to keep separate
How to avoid mixing up the cost of the move itself, setting up home and everyday living.
Read - Relocation3 min
Moving to Germany with your family: how to share out the tasks
A shared family plan that keeps track of children's, work and household matters.
Read - Relocation3 min
Temporary accommodation before a long-term rental: how to choose
What to clarify about length of stay, extensions and whether the address suits your needs.
Read - Relocation3 min
Shipping your belongings to Germany: how to brief a removal company
An inventory, loading conditions and questions that make quotes comparable.
Read - Relocation3 min
Your first week in Germany: how to set priorities
A practical order of steps after arrival without an overloaded schedule.
Read - Relocation3 min
Documents before you leave: how to put together a practical set
An inventory of originals, digital copies and checking what the recipient requires.
Read - Relocation3 min
How to prepare a move to Germany from another country
Remote tasks, written confirmations and the limits of what a representative can do.
Read - Relocation3 min
How to check a neighbourhood before you move: a route-based approach
Assessing an area through an ordinary weekday rather than the impression of a single walk.
Read - Relocation3 min
One month before the move: what to check one last time
Reviewing confirmations, deadlines and open arrangements before you leave.
Read - Relocation3 min
Moving in stages: when one person goes first
How to separate a preparatory trip from the whole family's move.
Read - Relocation3 min
Phone and account access after arriving in Germany
How to keep access to email, confirmations and key contacts while you travel.
Read - Relocation3 min
How to choose a language course after moving
Comparing courses by goal, timetable and practice, not just price.
Read - Relocation3 min
School and childcare when you move: how to prepare your questions
What information to gather before contacting local schools and childcare centres.
Read - Relocation2 min
Getting around after the move: comparing life with and without a car
Working out two everyday scenarios for your new address.
Read - Relocation3 min
Your first month after moving: how to review unfinished tasks
Reviewing documents, contracts, costs and household routines after the first weeks.
Read - Relocation3 min
If your move is delayed: how to prepare a plan B
Which arrangements to revisit when housing, documents or a job start date shift.
Read - Relocation3 min
How to choose relocation support for your move to Germany
Questions about the scope of work, the professionals involved, reporting and completion criteria.
Read - Relocation3 min
A shared relocation calendar: which fields you really need
A simple task log for the family and any helpers involved.
Read - Relocation3 min
EU Blue Card in Germany: current salary thresholds, conditions and documents
The current rules for the Blaue Karte EU: minimum salary, shortage occupations, and requirements for the contract and qualifications.
Read - Relocation3 min
Germany's Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): the points system and how to apply
The points-based job search visa: age, qualifications, language skills and proof of funds.
Read - Relocation2 min
Germany's visa for IT specialists without a degree: proving experience and meeting the conditions
The legal basis under Section 19c AufenthG for IT professionals without a formal degree: work experience, salary and evidence.
Read - Relocation2 min
Family reunification in Germany: living space, income and A1 German
The process for spouses and minor children joining you: living space standards, proof of income and timelines.
Read - Relocation2 min
Blocked accounts in Germany: how to choose a provider and what to check
How to open a Sperrkonto for study, a job search or the Opportunity Card: what providers offer, insurance and payouts.
Read - Relocation2 min
Permanent residence with an EU Blue Card: when to apply and what to prove
Conditions for a permanent settlement permit: 21 or 27 months, pension contributions, knowledge of the legal and social order, and documents.
Read - Relocation2 min
German citizenship under the new rules: five years, dual citizenship and the test
The reform of the Nationality Act: keeping your current citizenship, length of residence, language skills and income.
Read - Relocation3 min
Looking for a job in Germany: the Opportunity Card instead of the old job seeker visa
Which status suits a job search: the Opportunity Card for professionals from abroad and Section 20 AufenthG for graduates of German universities and vocational training.
Read - Relocation2 min
Visa for vocational training (Ausbildung) in Germany: language level, contract and funds
Getting a visa for dual vocational training: language certificates, finding a training company and proof of funds.
Read - Relocation2 min
Germany's freelance residence permit (Section 21 AufenthG): portfolio, letters of intent and financial plan
How to get a residence permit for a liberal profession (Freiberufler) in Germany: letters of intent, financial planning and pension provision.
Read - Relocation2 min
Incoming health insurance for your German visa: what the mission requires
Health insurance for your first entry into Germany: cover from €30,000, the deductible and switching to statutory insurance once you start work.
Read - Relocation2 min
Moving to Germany with pets: microchip, rabies vaccination, titre test and dog tax
Rules for bringing cats and dogs into Germany: microchip, rabies antibody test, animal health certificate and insurance.
Read - Relocation2 min
Importing your own car to Germany: relocation goods, customs and the TÜV inspection
Duty-free import when you relocate: form 0350, registration, the full technical inspection and vehicle tax.
Read - Relocation2 min
Exchanging your driving licence in Germany: six months, driving school, translation and the theory test
How to convert a foreign driving licence (Umschreibung): eye test, first aid course and exams.
Read - Relocation2 min
Doctors moving to Germany: Approbation, the medical language exam and practice
The roadmap to recognising a medical degree: temporary licence (Berufserlaubnis), the specialist language exam and visa steps.
Read - Relocation2 min
How to get an appointment at the immigration office: urgent cases and the Fiktionsbescheinigung
Strategies for getting an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde: scarce slots, contact forms, continued validity of your permit and legal action for inaction.
Read - Relocation3 min
Fiktionsbescheinigung: what it means, whether you can work and whether you can travel
The legal effect of the certificate under Section 81 AufenthG: the difference between subsections 3 and 4, crossing borders and showing it to your employer.
Read - Relocation2 min
Checking your degree in anabin and requesting a statement of comparability from the ZAB
How to prove your university degree: the H+ and H+/- statuses, the ZAB statement for the EU Blue Card and regulated professions.
Read - Relocation2 min
Germany's language course visa: an intensive course without the right to work, and preparing for university
The visa for learning German under Section 16f AufenthG: at least 18 hours of lessons a week, confirmation from the school and a blocked account.
Read - Relocation2 min
Claiming moving costs in your German tax return: the moving expenses lump sum
Tax relief for relocating to Germany: the lump sum, travel costs, double rent and estate agent fees.
Read - Relocation2 min
Bringing elderly parents to Germany: Section 36 AufenthG and health insurance
Why bringing parents to Germany is so difficult: exceptional hardship, the declaration of commitment and health insurance.
Read - Relocation2 min
Children in German schools: welcome classes, after-school care and settling in
How compulsory schooling works for families who move to Germany: preparatory classes, enrolment and language.
Read - Relocation3 min
German visa refused: a new application or a lawsuit in the administrative court
What to do after a visa refusal: analyse the reasons, submit a new application with further evidence or sue at the Berlin Administrative Court. The remonstration procedure was abolished on 1 July 2025.
Read - Relocation2 min
Applying for a master's degree in Germany through uni-assist: deadlines, language and visa
How to apply for a programme taught in English or German: uni-assist, converting grades with the Bavarian formula and the student visa.
Read - Relocation2 min
Which German state is best to live in? Taxes, schools, cost of living and climate
Comparing Germany's federal states: Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia – salaries, rents and lifestyle.
Read - Housing4 min
Looking for a flat in Germany: how to set realistic criteria
Must-haves, acceptable compromises and a single search budget.
Read - Housing3 min
Kaltmiete and Warmmiete: how to compare what flats really cost
Why the same price in two listings can mean a different monthly budget.
Read - Housing3 min
Documents for a rental application: how to put together your file
Preparing documents for the landlord's request without oversharing personal data.
Read - Housing3 min
Renting in Germany without a German credit history: what to discuss
How to explain your situation after moving and ask about alternative evidence.
Read - Housing4 min
Your first message to a landlord: what to write and what to leave out
A short enquiry about a specific flat with clear basic details.
Read - Housing3 min
Flat viewings: what to check and write down
The condition of the flat, questions for the landlord and notes for comparing options.
Read - Housing3 min
Viewing a flat by video from abroad: how to run the call
How to ask to see specific details and keep track of questions for an in-person check.
Read - Housing3 min
How to compare two flats after viewings
A matrix of criteria, open questions and the full cost of living there.
Read - Housing3 min
Kaution: how to plan for the rental deposit when moving in
Checking payment terms, the recipient and confirmations without mixing the deposit up with the rent.
Read - Housing3 min
Tenancy agreements: which questions to prepare for a legal review
How to organise a review of the Mietvertrag and collect verbal agreements.
Read - Housing3 min
Flat handover: how to prepare for the Übergabeprotokoll
Recording the condition, keys and meter readings when you move in.
Read - Housing3 min
A flat without a kitchen: what to calculate before you choose
Fittings, installation, timing and costs when renting an empty flat.
Read - Housing3 min
Looking for a flat with a pet: how to prepare your enquiry
What to discuss with the landlord and how to keep confirmed terms on record.
Read - Housing3 min
Furnished or unfurnished: how to compare your options
The cost of the transition period, what is included and freedom to set up your home.
Read - Housing3 min
Internet in your new flat: what to check before connecting
Availability at the address, moving your contract and setting up your workspace.
Read - Housing3 min
Electricity when moving in: what information to prepare
The meter, the handover date and checking your old contract when you move.
Read - Housing3 min
Rejected rental applications: how to rethink your search
Analysing your search funnel without trying to guess the landlord's motives.
Read - Housing3 min
Buying a flat in Germany: preparing to work with professionals
How to gather criteria, documents and questions before making commitments.
Read - Housing3 min
Your first month in a new flat: a log for household issues
How to keep faults, arrangements and unfinished connections in one place.
Read - Housing3 min
Staying safe when looking for a flat: how to check an offer
Checking the flat, the other party's authority and unusual demands before handing over money or documents.
Read - Housing2 min
How to find and rent a flat in Berlin: neighbourhoods, competition and portals
A practical guide to renting in Berlin: portals, viewings, and areas inside and outside the S-Bahn ring.
Read - Housing2 min
Renting a flat in Munich: how to win over landlords in Germany's most expensive market
Looking for a flat in Munich: rent per square metre, the one-third rule, commuter towns on the MVV network and guarantees.
Read - Housing2 min
Finding a home in Frankfurt am Main: the financial centre, its neighbourhoods and what to watch for
Renting in Frankfurt: Westend, Bornheim, Sachsenhausen, aircraft noise and help from employers.
Read - Housing2 min
Bewerbungsmappe: how to put together a rental application file that stands out
What a tenant's file contains: cover letter, tenant self-disclosure form, proof of income, SCHUFA report and confirmation of no rent arrears.
Read - Housing3 min
How to get your SCHUFA data for free (copy under Art. 15 GDPR) and the paid report for landlords
Two kinds of SCHUFA report: the free data copy under the GDPR and the paid BonitätsAuskunft.
Read - Housing2 min
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: the landlord's confirmation, deadlines and fines under Section 19 BMG
The official confirmation of moving in that you need to register at the Bürgeramt: who must sign it, what it must contain and the consequences of fake registrations.
Read - Housing2 min
Pitfalls in a German tenancy agreement: Staffelmiete, Indexmiete and cosmetic repairs
Risks in a German tenancy agreement: inflation-linked rent increases, cosmetic repairs and waivers of the right to give notice.
Read - Housing2 min
Getting your rental deposit back: review periods, interest and disputes over damage
How to recover your deposit in Germany: the usual review period of three to six months, retention for the service charge statement and steps before going to court.
Read - Housing2 min
Checking your service charge statement (Nebenkostenabrechnung): how to spot inflated items
Reviewing the annual statement: the 12-month deadline, costs allowed under the BetrKV and typical landlord mistakes.
Read - Housing2 min
The broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag): registering your flat, avoiding arrears and exemptions
Germany's mandatory broadcasting fee (€18.36): one flat, one fee, online registration and reductions.
Read - Housing3 min
Choosing an electricity supplier in Germany: basic supply or a comparison portal
How to save on electricity in Germany: switching from the expensive basic supply tariff, comparing on portals and price guarantees.
Read - Housing2 min
Getting home internet in Germany: DSL, cable or fibre, and the technician's visit
How to get fast internet in your flat: comparing technologies, the technician's appointment, your own router and temporary 5G.
Read - Housing2 min
Ending a tenancy in Germany: the three-month rule, the notice letter and replacement tenants
How to give notice on a Mietvertrag properly: the third-working-day rule, written form with a handwritten signature and finding a replacement tenant.
Read - Housing2 min
A flat without a kitchen: buying from the previous tenant, IKEA or a kitchen studio
German flats without fitted kitchens: buying the kitchen from the outgoing tenant, measuring, ordering a new kitchen and connecting the hob.
Read - Housing2 min
Mietpreisbremse: how to check whether your rent is too high and ask for a reduction
Germany's rent cap: the local rent index (Mietspiegel), the 10% allowance and recovering overpaid rent.
Read - Housing2 min
Finding a room in a shared flat through WG-Gesucht: your message and the WG casting
Renting a room in a shared flat (Wohngemeinschaft): how WG-Gesucht works, a good message and the casting.
Read - Housing2 min
House rules (Hausordnung): quiet hours, waste separation, barbecues and guests
The rules for living together in an apartment building in Germany: quiet hours, waste separation and possible fines.
Read - Housing2 min
Mould in a rented flat: proper airing, documenting the problem and reducing the rent
Dealing with damp and mould in a German flat: a ventilation log, airing in bursts and rent reductions (Mietminderung).
Read - Housing2 min
Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht): protection against damage to your rented flat and lost keys
Why tenants need personal liability insurance: damage to the rented property, water damage and lost keys to a master-key system.
Read - Housing2 min
Buying a flat in Germany: the steps, the notary, property transfer tax and estate agents
The full purchase procedure: checking the land register, the notarised contract, additional costs and the transfer of ownership.
Read - Housing2 min
Getting a mortgage in Germany as a foreign national: deposit and interest rates
How to obtain property financing (Baufinanzierung): residence permit requirements, equity (from 15 to 20%) and fixed interest periods.
Read - Housing2 min
Subletting (Untermiete): the landlord's permission, taxes and the sublease
Rules for subletting under Section 553 BGB: the tenant's legitimate interest, the risks of secret subletting and termination.
Read - Housing2 min
Handing back your flat when you move out: painting, the handover report and signing without pressure
Returning the flat to the landlord: fixing defects, reading meters, drawing up the handover report and recording disagreements.
Read - Housing2 min
Furnished apartments where you can register: Wunderflats, HousingAnywhere and Homelike
How to find temporary housing for your move: mid-term rental platforms, the landlord's confirmation for registration and moving on to a permanent contract.
Read - Housing2 min
Finding a flat in Hamburg: Altona, Winterhude or the suburbs, prices and transport
Hamburg's housing market: popular areas by the Alster and Elbe, housing cooperatives and the HVV transport network.
Read - Documents3 min
Anmeldung in Germany: how to prepare for registering your address
Finding the local requirements, checking your documents and confirming the next step.
Read - Documents3 min
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: what to check in the landlord's confirmation of move-in
Details about the flat, the residents and the date for your registration office.
Read - Documents5 min
A letter from a German authority: how to identify what you need to do
Sender, request, deadline and attachments – four anchors for working through a letter.
Read - Documents3 min
How to prepare a clear reply to a German authority
The structure of your letter, numbered attachments and keeping proof of sending.
Read - Documents3 min
A deadline in a letter from an authority: how to plan your reply
A working calendar, missing documents and asking questions in good time.
Read - Documents3 min
Booking an appointment: how not to confuse the service and the office
Checking the appointment category, the address, who attends and the list of documents.
Read - Documents3 min
Preparing for an appointment at an authority: your folder and list of questions
How to organise your documents and get clarity on the next steps.
Read - Documents3 min
Translating documents for Germany: what to check before you order
The recipient's requirements, the full set of pages, the spelling of names and the format of the result.
Read - Documents3 min
Original, copy and translation: how not to mix up their purposes
A matrix of documents for different applications and checking the required form of submission.
Read - Documents3 min
Getting your qualifications recognised in Germany: what to find out first
Your target occupation, the right procedure and finding the responsible authority.
Read - Documents3 min
An authority's online form: how to check your details before submitting
Drafts, attachments, identification and keeping proof of submission.
Read - Documents3 min
The authority has asked for more documents: what to do
Working through the request, checking what you already sent and preparing a precise reply.
Read - Documents3 min
Your personal document archive after moving: a simple structure
Folders by procedure, version control and limited access.
Read - Documents3 min
Different spellings of your name in documents: how to prepare your question
A table of discrepancies and checking the requirements without altering documents yourself.
Read - Documents3 min
Your first meeting with a lawyer: what documents to gather
A timeline, the purpose of the meeting and questions that make for a focused discussion.
Read - Documents3 min
Organisational support and a lawyer: who is responsible for what
How to separate preparing documents, communication and legal work.
Read - Documents3 min
A log of your correspondence with an authority: how not to lose track
A single list of incoming, outgoing and expected actions.
Read - Documents3 min
Changing your address: how to make a list of who to notify
Organisations, contracts and confirmations that your contact details have been updated.
Read - Documents3 min
How to check the status of your application without applying again
A short enquiry with the date, reference number and a specific question.
Read - Documents3 min
What to write in your first request for help with documents
How to describe the issue without sending your entire personal archive straight away.
Read - Documents3 min
Registering your address (Anmeldung) step by step: the Bürgeramt appointment, the form and the confirmation
Your first administrative step in Germany: the two-week deadline under Section 17 BMG, the registration form and the registration certificate.
Read - Documents3 min
Steuer-ID, Steuernummer and USt-IdNr: the differences, where to get them and where to use them
Germany's three main tax numbers: the lifelong personal ID, the tax number at your tax office and the EU VAT ID.
Read - Documents2 min
Tax classes in Germany (Steuerklasse 1–6): net salary and the choice for married couples
How tax classes work: 3/5 versus 4/4 with a factor, rules for single people and class 6 when details are missing.
Read - Documents2 min
Public (GKV) or private (PKV) health insurance: income threshold, contributions, family and switching back
Comparing Germany's two health insurance systems: the income threshold, free family cover and rising premiums in old age.
Read - Documents2 min
Which health insurance fund to choose: Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), Barmer and AOK compared
Choosing a Krankenkasse in Germany: additional contributions, English-language service, bonus programmes and benefits such as vaccinations.
Read - Documents2 min
Child benefit (Kindergeld): who is entitled, how much it is and how to apply through the Familienkasse
State support for families in Germany: €259 per child per month (2026), age limits and applying online.
Read - Documents3 min
Parental allowance (Elterngeld and ElterngeldPlus): amount, duration and how to apply
Germany's parental allowance: 65% of net income (up to €1,800), dividing the months between parents and the ElterngeldPlus rules.
Read - Documents2 min
Opening a bank account in Germany (Girokonto): traditional banks vs. fintechs (N26, Revolut, DKB)
Choosing a current account for everyday life: identity checks, address requirements, free debit cards and ATM fees.
Read - Documents2 min
A letter from the tax office (Finanzamt): understanding what it wants, deadlines and late-filing penalties
Making sense of tax correspondence: tax assessments (Steuerbescheid), the one-month objection period and late-filing surcharges.
Read - Documents2 min
Registering with ELSTER: ordering a certificate, activating it and filing online
How to set up your secure tax account: the .pfx certificate file, the activation code by post and submitting forms.
Read - Documents2 min
Tax returns for employees in Germany: what you can get back and which receipts to keep
How to get back over €1,000 on average: the work expenses allowance, commuting costs, the home office allowance and donations.
Read - Documents2 min
Doing your own tax return: Taxfix, WISO Steuer and SteuerGo compared
Comparing tax software: a simple questionnaire, ELSTER integration, tips on deductions and prices.
Read - Documents2 min
Certified translations and apostilles: when you need them and how to have copies certified
How foreign documents are accepted by German authorities: the apostille, sworn translators and certified copies.
Read - Documents2 min
How to get a nursery place: the Kita-Gutschein, waiting lists and talking to the nursery
Finding a place at a German nursery (Kita): the voucher system, the Berlin settling-in model and the shortage of places.
Read - Documents2 min
Legal expenses insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung): protection in employment, housing and traffic disputes
How legal expenses insurance works in Germany: waiting periods, cover for legal costs and choosing modules.
Read - Documents2 min
Your German pension: reading the Renteninformation and getting contributions refunded when you leave
Germany's state pension: pension points, the five-year minimum insurance period and refunds for non-EU nationals.
Read - Documents2 min
Occupational disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeit, BU): why you need it and how not to overpay
Protecting your earned income against serious illness or burnout: the 50% criterion and the health questionnaire.
Read - Documents2 min
German language certificates compared: Goethe-Zertifikat, telc, TestDaF and DSH
Which language exam to choose: Goethe-Institut and telc for visas and citizenship, TestDaF and DSH for university.
Read - Documents3 min
Marrying in Denmark and living in Germany: documents, procedure and recognition
An alternative to the German registry office: marrying in Denmark with minimal bureaucracy, documents without an apostille under EU rules and recognition in Germany.
Read - Documents2 min
How to order a certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis) online with your eID or in person
Ordering an official criminal record certificate: the standard and extended certificate, the Federal Office of Justice portal and visits to the Bürgeramt.
Read - Documents2 min
The German school system: Grundschule, Gymnasium, Realschule and choosing a path
How German schools are structured: four years of primary school, the Abitur for university, vocational orientation and moving between school types.
Read - Documents3 min
Unemployment benefits in Germany: Arbeitslosengeld I and Bürgergeld
Social protection in Germany: unemployment benefit of 60–67% of net pay (Arbeitslosengeld I), notification deadlines and basic income support (Bürgergeld).
Read - Documents2 min
Your social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer): where to find it and how to get a replacement
Your pension insurance number: how it is structured and how it is issued automatically through your health insurance fund and employer.
Read - Documents2 min
A business account for the self-employed: can you use a personal account, and which business accounts to consider
Bank accounts for freelancers and traders: bank terms and conditions, keeping finances separate and providers such as Finom, Qonto and Kontist.
Read - Documents2 min
Verifying your identity with Postident and Video-Ident: passing the check with your passport
Identity verification under the Money Laundering Act (GwG): a video chat on your smartphone, a visit to the post office and chip-enabled documents.
Read - Starting a business4 min
Starting a business in Germany: how to build a roadmap
Connecting the idea, legal questions, resources and preparation for your first sales.
Read - Starting a business3 min
How to test a business idea before renting premises
The customer's question, a small demand test and criteria for the next investment.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Who is your first customer? How to narrow down your audience
Segmenting by task, buying situation and an accessible communication channel.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Competitor analysis in Germany: what to compare besides price
The offer, ease of ordering, limitations and signals of trust.
Read - Starting a business3 min
A business plan for your launch: how to link the sections together
Checking the logic from customer and product through to costs and the resources you need.
Read - Starting a business3 min
How to describe your service before launching a business
The result, scope, required inputs and limits of the offer.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Start-up costs: how to build a register of estimates
One-off costs, recurring expenses and confirming large amounts.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Fixed and variable costs: a working table for your idea
How to check what changes with the number of orders.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Why revenue and money in the bank are different things
Planning the timing of incoming and outgoing payments in a small company.
Read - Starting a business3 min
The legal form of your business: what to ask before choosing
Partners, liability, management and administrative workload as topics for a consultation.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Gewerbe or Freiberufler: how to describe your activity
Which facts to gather before discussing your classification with a professional.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Gewerbeanmeldung: how to organise your preparation for trade registration
The local office, the description of your activity and checking additional requirements.
Read - Starting a business3 min
ELSTER when starting a business: what to prepare for the discussion
Access, initial data and questions for your tax adviser.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Commercial premises: write a search brief before viewing
Your workflow, requirements for the space and checking whether a property is suitable.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Choosing a supplier for a new business: a comparison table
What is included, lead times, minimum orders and how errors are corrected.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Starting a business with a partner: what to discuss before registering
Roles, decisions, contributions and resolving disagreements as an agenda for your meeting.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Your business name: how to prepare options for checking
Pronunciation, meaning, domain and questions for a legal check.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Contractors at launch: how to divide the work without gaps
Task boundaries, dependencies and accepting the results of different contractors.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Is your business ready for its first order? Checking the full journey
From the customer's enquiry through delivery to handing over the result and getting feedback.
Read - Starting a business3 min
A 90-day launch plan: how to connect stages and checks
A working horizon for preparation, first enquiries and revisiting your hypotheses.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Setting up a UG (mini-GmbH) in Germany: step by step from €1 to your first deal
How to register an Unternehmergesellschaft: share capital, the notary, the business account and the commercial register.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Setting up a GmbH in Germany: €25,000 share capital, notary costs and fees
The full cost of setting up a GmbH: share capital, notary fees, registers and first taxes.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Musterprotokoll or individual articles of association: which to choose when setting up a company in Germany
Comparing the standard protocol with individual articles: the single managing director limit, risks and the difference in notary costs.
Read - Starting a business2 min
A bank account for a company in formation (GmbH / UG i.G.): choosing a bank and documents
How to open a business account for a company in formation in Germany, pay in the share capital and get the bank's confirmation.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Gewerbeanmeldung in Germany: filling in the trade registration form step by step
How to register a trade online or at the Gewerbeamt: the required fields, describing your activity and deadlines.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Freiberufler or Gewerbe: the key differences, trade tax and how the tax office decides
Distinguishing the liberal professions from commercial activity in Germany: how IT specialists, consultants and designers are assessed.
Read - Starting a business3 min
The tax registration questionnaire (Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung) in ELSTER: how to get your tax number
How to fill in the tax questionnaire when starting a business in Germany: revenue forecast, choosing your VAT regime and getting a Steuernummer.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Gründungszuschuss: how to get support from the employment agency to start a business
Financial support from the Agentur für Arbeit when moving from unemployment into self-employment: stages, calculation and making the case for your business plan.
Read - Starting a business2 min
A business plan for a German bank and the IHK: structure, financial plan and common mistakes
What a business plan in Germany must contain: product description, competitor analysis, profitability forecast and cash flow planning.
Read - Starting a business2 min
A business address in Germany: virtual office, coworking or home address
How to choose your company's address: the tax office's requirements for genuine presence and protecting your privacy.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Setting up an Einzelunternehmen in Germany: starting as a sole trader without capital or a notary
How to start a sole proprietorship in Germany: the steps, personal liability and tax reporting.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Setting up a GbR in Germany: registration, partnership agreement and risks
Running a joint business as a GbR: the partners' joint and several liability and the key points of the agreement.
Read - Starting a business2 min
The notary appointment when setting up a company in Germany: procedure, language and documents
How the founding documents are signed before a German notary: interpreters and powers of attorney.
Read - Starting a business3 min
IHK and HWK membership: mandatory fees, exemptions for new businesses and what the chambers offer
How automatic membership of the chamber of commerce (IHK) and the chamber of crafts (HWK) works in Germany and who is exempt from paying.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Getting an EORI number in Germany: registering with customs (Zoll) for imports and exports
How German businesses get an EORI customs identifier: the customs portal, processing times and use in customs declarations.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Opening an online shop in Germany: legal requirements, the Packaging Act and the order process
What to consider when launching e-commerce in Germany: the 14-day right of withdrawal, terms and conditions, packaging registration and data protection.
Read - Starting a business2 min
The Packaging Act (VerpackG) and the LUCID register: mandatory registration for online retail
Registering in the LUCID packaging register (ZSVR): joining a dual system, licensing your packaging and fines of up to €200,000.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Franchising in Germany: checking the franchisor, the entry fee and reviewing the contract
How to choose and launch a franchise business in Germany: the entry fee, royalties and estimating realistic profit.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Opening a café or restaurant in Germany: hygiene rules, the concept and the Gaststättenerlaubnis licence
The steps to launching a food business: dealing with the public order office (Ordnungsamt), hygiene certificates and the alcohol licence.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Tax advisers (Steuerberater) in Germany: choosing the right one and fees under the StBVV
Finding and working with a German tax adviser: the official StBVV fee structure, preparing your records and the DATEV format.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Starting a business in Germany as a non-resident: registering a company without a German residence permit
How foreign nationals can register a GmbH or UG: requirements for the managing director, visa risks and getting through bank checks.
Read - Starting a business3 min
Liquidating a GmbH or UG in Germany: the stages, the liquidator and the one-year blocking period (Sperrjahr)
Voluntarily closing a German company: the resolution, the creditor notice in the Federal Gazette, settling with creditors and keeping records.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Government-backed business loans in Germany: KfW programmes
How to get a KfW StartGeld start-up loan: interest rates, the state's risk cover and applying through your own bank.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Business insurance in Germany: Betriebshaftpflicht liability cover and protecting your assets
The main types of commercial insurance in Germany: third-party liability, professional indemnity and legal expenses cover.
Read - Starting a business2 min
Converting a UG into a GmbH: increasing the share capital to €25,000
How to move from an Unternehmergesellschaft to a standard GmbH: building reserves, the balance sheet audit and updating the commercial register.
Read - Growing a business4 min
A website for a new business in Germany: what to prepare before development
The offer, structure, materials and the customer's real path to an enquiry.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Landing page or multi-page website: how to choose for the task
The difference lies in the number of customer scenarios, the content and the sources of traffic.
Read - Growing a business3 min
The service page: which customer questions it must answer
Who it suits, what is included, how the work proceeds and how an enquiry begins.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Home page copy: how to explain your business on one screen
Who you help, with what task and what action you suggest next.
Read - Growing a business3 min
The enquiry form: which fields you need for the first reply
The minimum information needed, helpful hints and checking that enquiries are delivered.
Read - Growing a business3 min
The first reply to an enquiry: how to move to a focused conversation
Confirming the topic, asking for missing information and giving a clear next step.
Read - Growing a business3 min
A simple CRM for a small team: where to start
Statuses, owners and next actions before choosing a complex system.
Read - Growing a business3 min
How to choose the first business process to automate
Repeatability, rules, exceptions and a measurable test result.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Testing automation: scenarios beyond a successful run
Resubmission, empty data, an unavailable service and manual recovery.
Read - Growing a business3 min
AI assistants in business: which tasks to delegate and how to check them
Sources, permitted actions and handing difficult questions over to a person.
Read - Growing a business3 min
SEO for a new website: what to check before promotion
Page accessibility, structure, content and correct URLs.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Blog topics for a service business: how to choose useful questions
The path from a real customer question to a self-contained article.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Trust on your website: which information matters more than big promises
Real contact details, a clear scope of services, verifiable case studies and the limits of responsibility.
Read - Growing a business3 min
How to write a case study when you have no verified growth figures
The task, the team's contribution, limitations and a verifiable project result.
Read - Growing a business3 min
The first customers of a new business: how to draw up a testable plan
One segment, a clear offer and a small set of channels.
Read - Growing a business3 min
A customer journey map for a small business: a simple version
A person's questions and actions from first contact to the completion of an order.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Which metrics to track after launching a business
A small set of observations on the quality of enquiries and how work is delivered.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Handing over a website after development: what the owner must keep
Domain, services, instructions and checking access before the project ends.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Managing revisions: how not to lose the approved text
A single source of comments, versioning and separating errors from new tasks.
Read - Growing a business3 min
The first month in business: what to review before expanding
Comparing initial expectations with enquiries, delivery and the actual workload.
Read - Growing a business3 min
The mandatory Impressum on German websites: requirements under the DDG and penalties
Which details a commercial website must publish under the Digital Services Act (DDG), the two-click rule and protection against cease-and-desist letters.
Read - Growing a business3 min
A GDPR privacy policy (Datenschutzerklärung) for a German website
The structure of the policy under the GDPR (DSGVO), legal bases for processing data and listing the third-party scripts you use.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Cookie banners and user consent in Germany under the TDDDG: how to set them up
Section 25 TDDDG, the ban on pre-ticked boxes, consent management platforms (CMP) and the difference between technical and advertising cookies.
Read - Growing a business3 min
How to issue a correct invoice (Rechnung) in Germany: mandatory details under Section 14 UStG
The mandatory elements of a business invoice, sequential numbering rules, showing VAT and the rules for small-amount invoices (Kleinbetragsrechnung).
Read - Growing a business3 min
E-invoicing (E-Rechnung) in Germany: the XRechnung and ZUGFeRD standards
The phased move to electronic invoices in B2B from 2025 to 2028: XML formats, the difference from plain PDFs and preparing your accounting software.
Read - Growing a business3 min
The small business rule (Section 19 UStG): turnover limits, benefits and risks of working without VAT
How the Kleinunternehmer scheme works, the current turnover thresholds, no monthly VAT returns (Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung) and when it pays to opt out.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Accounting software in Germany: an overview of Lexware Office, sevdesk and DATEV
Comparing popular cloud accounting services: bank synchronisation, data export for your tax adviser and GoBD compliance.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Hiring staff on a Minijob in Germany: the €603 limit, contributions and registering with the Minijob-Zentrale
The rules for hiring on a marginal employment basis, the employer's flat-rate contributions, holiday entitlement and electronic registration.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Hiring a working student (Werkstudent): the 20-hour limit, tax and social contributions
The benefits of hiring full-time students, the 20-hours-a-week rule, exemption from health insurance contributions and the employment contract.
Read - Growing a business2 min
Local SEO in Germany: optimising your Google Business Profile and local searches
How to promote local services in German cities: verification, handling reviews within the law and consistent NAP data.
Read - Growing a business2 min
Structuring a business website for German customers: trust signals and conversion
How German B2B and B2C buyers think: certificates, technical transparency, clear pricing and data protection.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Creating a landing page for paid advertising in Germany
How to design high-converting landing pages for Google Ads, legal requirements for lead forms and reducing the cost of acquiring customers.
Read - Growing a business2 min
Implementing a CRM for a business in Germany: GDPR requirements and EU servers
Choosing a CRM (HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce), keeping data in European data centres, the data processing agreement (AVV) and customers' rights.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Automating lead handling: connecting website forms with Make, Telegram and a CRM
Building fault-tolerant flows for passing on enquiries, spam filtering, webhooks, backup logs and fast responses to customers.
Read - Growing a business2 min
Running Google Ads in Germany: keywords, negative keywords and the Unfair Competition Act (UWG)
What is special about search advertising in the DACH region, protecting yourself from competitors' legal claims under the UWG, campaign structure and language nuances.
Read - Growing a business3 min
How to read the BWA (Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung) from your tax adviser
The structure of the monthly business evaluation and its key lines: Gesamtleistung, Rohertrag, Personalkosten, Vorläufiges Ergebnis and managing profitability.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Taxes on company profits in Germany: corporation tax (Körperschaftsteuer) and trade tax (Gewerbesteuer)
Calculating the tax burden for a UG or GmbH: corporation tax rates, the solidarity surcharge, the municipal multiplier (Hebesatz) and taxation of dividends.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Email marketing in Germany: double opt-in and the spam ban under Section 7 UWG
Legal requirements for newsletters, the double opt-in procedure, keeping consent logs, the Impressum in emails and protection against legal claims.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Employment contracts (Arbeitsvertrag) in Germany: Evidence Act requirements and probation
The mandatory terms under the Evidence Act (Nachweisgesetz), when electronic form is enough, overtime rules, holidays and the probation period.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Dismissing an employee in Germany: the Protection Against Dismissal Act (KSchG) and warnings
When the KSchG applies (more than 10 employees), the three lawful grounds for dismissal, written warnings (Abmahnung) and the deadline for legal action.
Read - Growing a business2 min
Using artificial intelligence in business: EU AI Act requirements and data protection
The EU's risk categories for AI systems, keeping customers' personal data out of public AI tools and a company AI policy.
Read - Growing a business3 min
B2B sales in Germany: why cold calls without consent are not allowed (Section 7 UWG)
The legal position of phone and email outreach to businesses, presumed consent (mutmaßliche Einwilligung) and legitimate ways to generate leads.
Read - Growing a business3 min
Exhibiting at German trade fairs (Messe): preparation, the stand and collecting leads
Germany as the world's trade fair capital (Hannover Messe, IFA, Medica): budget planning, stand agreements and converting contacts.
Read - Growing a business3 min
SEO for a multilingual website: setting up hreflang and geotargeting correctly
Organising language versions (subfolders vs. subdomains), hreflang syntax, avoiding duplicate content and correct regional indexing in Google.
Read - Growing a business2 min
Website security audit: TLS, security headers and BSI recommendations
Technical standards for protecting websites based on the recommendations of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI): CSP and HSTS headers, encrypted forms and preventing data leaks.
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