Set Up a Company in Germany from the UK

Since Brexit, a UK company is a third-country business in the EU: no more automatic freedom of establishment, customs formalities on goods, and UK firms can no longer simply passport services into Europe. The clean solution used by hundreds of UK companies is their own German GmbH — an EU company that can sell, hire and hold stock inside the single market. Germany Business Development sets it up for you remotely from the UK.

Brexit changed the rules — not the right to own

German law still allows 100% foreign ownership: a UK citizen or a UK limited company can own all shares of a German GmbH, and Brexit did not change that. What changed is the practice: UK founders are now treated like other non-EU founders, so documents need an apostille, banks run fuller identity checks, and working in Germany yourself needs a residence permit. Owning and running the company from the UK needs none of that. Our Brexit page gives the background; this page is the practical setup guide.

Which structure fits a UK business?

GmbH subsidiary — your UK Ltd owns a German GmbH. Share capital €25,000, at least €12,500 paid in before registration. Full EU market access, limited liability, and the form German customers and suppliers trust most.

UG (haftungsbeschränkt) — the “mini-GmbH” from €1 capital, converting to a GmbH at €25,000 of reserves. A lean way to establish a first EU foothold.

Branch (Zweigniederlassung) — a registered branch of your UK company. No separate capital, but the UK parent carries full liability, and post-Brexit paperwork is often no simpler than a subsidiary.

Our Business Establishment service starts by matching the structure to your trade flows — goods, services or both.

How it works — step by step

1. Structure and name check — we check the German company name with the Chamber of Commerce (IHK) and commercial register.
2. Documents in the UK — passport copies and, if your UK Ltd is the shareholder, its Companies House documents. The power of attorney is notarised in the UK and legalised with a Hague apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office; corporate documents may need sworn German translations.
3. Notary in Germany — our team represents you under the apostilled power of attorney. No travel required.
4. Bank account and share capital — account opened, capital paid in, bank confirmation issued to the notary.
5. Handelsregister registration — entry in the commercial register; your GmbH now legally exists as an EU company.
6. Tax, VAT and address — German tax number and VAT ID arranged; for goods trading we flag EORI/customs points early. A compliant German business address is available from day one via our Virtual Office.

Typical timeline from the UK: 4 to 8 weeks, with the document chain and bank onboarding as the variable parts.

Costs

GmbH share capital is €25,000 (at least €12,500 paid in — your company’s money, not a fee), plus notary, register, apostille and translation costs and our formation package. Fixed itemised quote before we start: request your quote.

Good to know for UK founders

• Tax treaty: The UK–Germany double taxation convention remains fully in force after Brexit, so dividends and profits are not taxed twice.
• Selling goods into the EU: Your German GmbH imports once into the EU and then sells within the single market — no per-shipment customs border between your warehouse and EU customers.
• Working in Germany: Running the GmbH from the UK needs no permit. Relocating and working in Germany does — our Immigration team covers the self-employment route.

Why Germany Business Development?

We are based in Bruchsal, Germany, and specialise in foreign companies entering the German and EU market. Formation, legal and ongoing support from one English-speaking team, with one fixed contact person.

Frequently asked questions

Can a UK company still open a company in Germany after Brexit?

Yes. Brexit did not change ownership rights — a UK company or citizen can own 100% of a German GmbH. UK founders are treated as non-EU founders, so documents need an apostille and banks run fuller checks.

Do I need to travel to Germany to form a GmbH?

No. With a notarised and apostilled UK power of attorney, our team represents you at the German notary and completes the formation remotely.

How much capital does a GmbH need?

€25,000 share capital, with at least €12,500 paid into the company bank account before registration. A UG can start from €1.

Is a branch or a GmbH better for a UK company?

For most UK trading companies a GmbH subsidiary is better: limited liability, full EU access and simpler day-to-day acceptance. A branch keeps the UK parent fully liable.

How long does it take from the UK?

Typically 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the apostille, translations and bank onboarding.