In Germany, a business plan is not a box-ticking exercise but the main tool lenders, immigration offices and chambers of commerce use to assess a company's soundness. German reviewers look above all at transparent figures and realistic forecasts.

The standard structure

A classic German business plan includes an executive summary, the founder's profile and skills, a detailed description of the product or service, target customer groups, marketing and pricing strategy, a competitor analysis, the legal form and a timetable for implementation.

Capital requirements and financing plan

The capital requirements plan (Kapitalbedarfsplan) lists all start-up costs: machinery, office equipment, rent, the notary, insurance and initial working capital. Alongside the costs, it shows where the money comes from: equity (Eigenkapital), bank loans or government-backed loans.

Profitability forecast

The profitability forecast (Rentabilitätsvorschau) covers at least three years, with the first year broken down by month. It links planned revenue to the cost of materials, staff, depreciation and taxes. Banks check whether the business still makes a profit after paying the founder a salary (Unternehmerlohn).

Cash flow and liquidity planning

The liquidity plan (Liquiditätsplan) shows when customer payments actually arrive and when mandatory payments go out. In German practice, a common reason for failure in the first year is a cash shortfall: corporate clients pay late while wages and taxes have to be paid on time.

What to check

  • Separate fixed and variable costs and justify every major item.
  • Include realistic living costs for yourself (Unternehmerlohn) in the financial model.
  • Cite public statistical sources when estimating the size of the market.
  • Check that the figures are consistent across all the tables in the financial section.

Example situation

A bakery founder builds a 45-day gap between buying flour and being paid by corporate catering clients into the liquidity plan and bridges it with a credit line.

Next step

German banks value conservative forecasts; underestimating costs or promising big profits from month one comes across as a lack of competence.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.