This document provides a comparison of different legal forms available under German law, including civil law partnerships, limited liability companies, entrepreneurial limited companies, limited liability partnerships, and joint-stock companies. It outlines key characteristics such as limitation of liability, minimum share capital requirements, formal registration requirements, company bodies, rules for transferring shares, accounting practices, and typical costs for establishing each legal form. The document is intended as a brief overview and not as a basis for business decisions, and other combined legal forms, supranational, or foreign companies may also be options depending on individual circumstances. No responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the information provided.

1.
Choice of legal form
Limitation of Minimum Formal Bodies of the Transfer of Accounting, Tax aspects Foundation costs
liability share capital requirements company shares public domain (notary, CR)
Civil law partnership (‐) (‐) GbR: (‐) (managing) requires GbR: cash taxation of GbR: (‐)
(GbR) resp. shareholders consent; no based shareholders oHG: approx.
commercial law oHG: CR form accounting at individual EUR 200,‐
partnership (OHG) OHG: Annual tax rates
accounts
Limited liability  EUR 25.000,‐ notarial Shareholder without Annual taxation of approx. EUR 600,‐
company (GmbH) recording of meeting, consent, but accounts with company (assumption: two
formation; CR Managing may be notes, to be shareholders,
directors restricted; published individual articles)
notarial form
Entrepreneurial  EUR 1,‐ notarial Shareholder without Annual taxation of approx. EUR 180,‐
limited company recording of meeting, consent, but accounts with company (assumption: one
(„1 € GmbH“) formation; CR managing may be notes, to be shareholder,
directors restricted; published standardized
notarial form articles)
Limited liability  GmbH: EUR notarial in practice: requires Annual taxation of KG: approx.
partnership (GmbH & 25.000,‐ resp. recording of Shareholder consent; accounts with shareholders EUR 200,‐
Co. KG resp. UG & Co. UG: EUR 1,‐ GmbH meeting, GmbH: see notes, to be at individual + costs for
KG) formation; CR Managing above published tax rates foundation of
KG: EUR 1,‐ directors KG: no form GmbH‐ resp. UG
Joint‐stock company  EUR 50.000,‐ notarial AGM, without Annual taxation of approx.
(AG) recording of Advisory board, consent, but accounts with company EUR 1.200,‐
formation; CR Management may be notes, to be
board restricted no published
form
This survey is intended to provide a brief overview on legal forms available under German law. It is not designed to serve as a basis of business decisions. It has to be decided in each invidual case if the formation
of other combined legal forms (partnership on shares, foundation & Co. KG, etc.), supranational (SE) or foreign (ltd., etc.) companies is recommendable.
No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information. Status: 07/2011
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