Forming a GmbH or UG in Berlin – we prepare everything
Whether you want to form a GmbH or a UG: the paperwork is manageable once someone organises it. We structure the process, put the documents together and coordinate the notary, the bank and the authorities – so the appointment goes smoothly the first time.
Discuss your incorporationForming a GmbH or a UG – the essentials up front
To form a GmbH in Berlin you need share capital of €25,000; at least €12,500 of that must be paid in if contributed in cash. To form a UG, in theory €1 is enough – but the full amount has to be paid in cash, and a quarter of the annual surplus has to go into the statutory reserve. Both are the same family of legal form, and we prepare both the same way.
How long it takes
Realistically, several weeks from the first conversation to the entry in the commercial register. The notary appointment itself takes under an hour – the time passes before and after it.
What the costs consist of
Notary fees, the commercial register court fee, the trade registration fee and, depending on the case, chamber of commerce (IHK) dues. The amount depends on the share capital, the number of shareholders and whether you use a standard template or your own articles of association.
What we do
We organise the process, put the documents together, coordinate the notary, bank and authorities, and set up your bookkeeping from your very first business transaction.
What we take care of for you
- A process plan and checklist for your incorporation – you always know what comes next
- Putting together all the documents for the notary appointment
- Coordinating the notary, bank, trade office and tax office
- Preparing the tax registration questionnaire
- Setting up your bookkeeping from the first business transaction
- Building your receipt organisation before the first receipt exists
Who does what
We handle the organisation: process, documents, appointments, dealings with the authorities and your bookkeeping from day one. The legal structuring and the tax registration are handled by the notary and the tax advisor. You engage both directly, and each advises independently. We know the right partners for both and coordinate them for you, so you only have one point of contact for all of it.
This question comes up at the start of almost every initial conversation. The cost is made up of several parts: notary fees for the notarisation and the commercial register filing, the register court fee, the trade registration fee and, depending on the case, chamber of commerce (IHK) dues. The exact amount depends on the share capital, the number of shareholders and whether you form the company with a standard template or an individual articles of association.
Your notary will give you the binding figures – they charge according to a statutory fee schedule and can quote the total in advance. What we contribute: we make sure the appointment goes smoothly the first time. A second notary appointment because a document was missing is the most expensive avoidable item in an incorporation.
Realistically, allow several weeks between the first conversation and the entry in the commercial register. The notary appointment itself takes under an hour. The time passes before and after it: settling on a company name, putting the documents together, opening a business account, paying in the share capital, waiting for the registration.
Between notarisation and registration, by the way, you are not unable to act. Your company trades in this phase as a “GmbH in Gründung” (i.G. – in formation) and can already do business. But be careful: before registration, the people acting on the company’s behalf are personally liable, and the limitation of liability does not yet apply in full. Have the notary explain this before you take on major commitments in this phase.
What usually causes a delay: not the notary, and rarely the register court. Delays almost always happen before that stage – the documents are incomplete, the company name has not been cleared, the business account is not yet open. That is exactly where we step in.
The UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is legally a GmbH with a reduced minimum share capital: it can be formed from one euro. Two conditions apply, though: the share capital must be paid in fully in cash – contributions in kind are excluded for a UG – and the UG must transfer a quarter of its annual surplus, reduced by any loss carried forward, into a statutory reserve every year.
Once enough has been saved up, it does not automatically become a GmbH: that requires a notarised resolution to increase the capital to at least €25,000 and an entry in the commercial register.
For a GmbH, the share capital is €25,000; for cash contributions, at least a quarter of each share and at least €12,500 in total must be paid in, while contributions in kind must be provided in full.
Which form is right for you is decided at the notary appointment. We make sure you go in with complete figures and documents, so the decision can then be implemented without delay.
Yes. Since the Digitalisation Directive was implemented, notarising a GmbH or UG formation by video call has been possible. For standard incorporations using a template, this is often the fastest route – no travel, and appointments can be arranged at shorter notice.
That does not change anything about the preparation. The documents have to be just as complete as for an in-person appointment, and identification runs through its own procedure. We put the documents together regardless of whether the appointment takes place online or at the notary’s office.
- Initial conversation: we clarify your plans, the timeline and who else is involved.
- Company name and structure: company name, shareholders, shares, management – we prepare the points the notary needs from you.
- Documents: we put the folder together and check it for completeness.
- Notary appointment: you go in with a complete folder. On request, we come along and have all the figures and documents ready to hand.
- After notarisation: business account, paying in the share capital, commercial register entry, trade registration – we keep track of the order and the deadlines.
- Start: your receipt organisation is in place, and ongoing bookkeeping begins with your first business transaction.
Discuss your incorporation
Tell us what you are planning and when you want to get started – we will tell you which documents you need and in what order.