Limited Liability Company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, GmbH) – The limited liability company is a German legal form that is founded by at least one person and managed by at least one shareholder. As the name already indicates, this corporate legal form is characterized by a limitation of liability for its shareholder(s). The GmbH is pretty much the most typical corporate form in Germany and is also popularly chosen right from incorporation, then the share capital of (usually) 25,000 euros, speaks for a certain solidity for outsiders, for example suppliers. Back to all: Legal forms.
In the following, you will find out everything you need to know about setting up a GmbH. How do you become a shareholder of a GmbH? What are the differences between incomplete and complete companies? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages? How do I set up a company? What is a company? You will get an answer to all these questions and more – explained simply and quickly. Plus everything you need to know about taxes in Germany and real estate trading.
Learn everything important about it here! In addition, you will find all German types of companies and legal forms, as well as tips on how to start a company, including the special case of real estate GmbH, family foundation & Co.
If you’re considering setting up a limited company, the first thing you need to know about is the incorporation process: Who can form what exactly, when and to how many… what are the differences and similarities between the various forms of company law? It is equally important to know the advantages and disadvantages of a GmbH: From profit distribution to saving taxes – an overview of the seven most important founding criteria for you.
What are the founding criteria?
Number of shareholders
Management
Foundation
Company name
Funding
Liability
Profit distribution
Corporation GmbH: Management according to HGB
In the entrepreneurial world, there are many different forms of business you can choose from. They are roughly divided into two categories, namely sole proprietorship and companies, which in turn are divided into incomplete companies – these include dormant companies and BGB companies – and complete companies – partnerships, corporations and some more.
The limited liability company – in short: GmbH – is one of the so-called complete companies and, in contrast to incomplete companies, is not subject to the German Civil Code (BGB) but to the German Commercial Code (HGB). As a corporation, the GmbH has a more complex structure than other forms of corporate law, as it cannot be formed informally like a general partnership (OHG), but requires notarisation of the shareholders’ agreement.
Legal form variant GmbH & Co KGaA – KGaA with general partner GmbH
Sometimes the GmbH also appears in combination with a partnership limited by shares (KGaA). For example, family businesses occasionally organise themselves as a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung & Compagnie Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien – in short: GmbH & Co KGaA. In this case, they form a stock corporation in the legal sense – however, the general partner as personally liable shareholder is not just any natural person, but specifically a limited liability company (GmbH). If the general partner is instead embodied by an AG, it is referred to as an AG & Co KGaA, and in the case of a Societas Europaea, as an SE & Co KGaA.
Companies operating under the legal form variant of the GmbH & Co KGaA have only existed since the end of the 1990s, after open legal questions were clearly explained by a court ruling of the Federal Supreme Court (BGF). The licensing departments of some well-known football clubs have opted to set up a GmbH & Co KGaA, as have many other companies from a wide range of industries: Food, pharmaceuticals, clothing, publishing and digital media, to name but a few.
Examples of GmbH & Co KGaA companies:
Asklepios Clinics GmbH & Co. KGaA
Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA
CoinIX GmbH & Co. KGaA
Funke Media Group GmbH & Co. KGaA
H&R GmbH & Co. KGaA
Jack Wolfskin Ausrüstung für Draußen GmbH & Co. KGaA
Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA
Mineralbrunnen Überkingen-Teinach GmbH & Co. KGaA
NorCom Information Technology GmbH & Co. KGaA
Paragon GmbH & Co. KGaA
Schwartauer Werke GmbH & Co. KGaA
Wiley-VCH GmbH & Co. KGaA
CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA is a special case: In this company, the general partner is embodied by a foundation. In principle, the partnership limited by shares is possible in all conceivable combinations, as GUB Investment Trust KGaA points out as an example.
Continue reading here on the topic of setting up a family foundation:
Foundation & management: alone, as a partner or in a team
You want to found a GmbH and live your dream of independence in reality? No problem! Because for the foundation of a GmbH one natural – or legal – person is completely sufficient. If you want, you can be the sole founder of the company and thus automatically take over the management alone. Founder duos, on the other hand, usually share the management, whereas in a multi-person GmbH all shareholders can exercise their co-management rights. Optionally, the position of managing director can also be outsourced and filled externally. In this case, one speaks of a commissioned external managing director.
Whoever ultimately holds the power of management… There is an obligation towards the other shareholders to provide information on the affairs of the GmbH and to submit the books and documents to them for inspection upon request.
Tip: A limited liability company is an excellent way to set up a family business. Due to the flexible possibilities to adapt the share capital and the business shares to the financial framework of all family members and to manage the business across generations, parents, children and grandchildren can jointly participate in the corporation.
Entry in the commercial register: The most important applications for GmbH founders
The internal relationship determines the beginning of the company as the date contractually agreed between the partners. In the external relationship, however, the formation of the GmbH is dated on the first action on behalf of the company, i.e. at the latest with the binding entry in the commercial register. Registration costs you on average around 200 to 300 euros and is usually carried out by a notary.
Since you are registered in the commercial register as a GmbH shareholder, you can – just like a OHG shareholder – officially trade under a company name. This means that your company has a company name, i.e. an official name, which you can freely design together with the other shareholders. It doesn’t matter whether it is a personal company, a real company, a fancy company or a mixed company… As long as the name is in the sense of the prohibition of misleading and the name is “Gesellschaft…. mbH” or carries the suffix “GmbH”, almost anything is allowed.
Tax ID, Trade Licensing Office, Articles of Association & Notary Public
You will first receive a tax identification number – tax ID for short – from your local tax office, which serves as a basic requirement for all other formalities and applications. The registration of the GmbH as a company or commercial enterprise is carried out by the Trade Licensing Office for a processing fee of approximately 10 to 65 euros.
Moreover, a so-called obligation to make additional contributions can also be agreed in the shareholders’ agreement. This is an optional limited or unlimited obligation of the partners to make further limited or unlimited additional contributions on top of the existing contributions. Such a requirement is usually linked to certain conditions or the occurrence of certain situations, such as the pending redevelopment of a property. According to the Law on Limited Liability Companies (GmbHG), such agreed additional contributions must be in proportion to the GmbH shares of the individual shareholders. However, by means of an abandonment – i.e. the relinquishment of one’s own shares in the company – it is possible to free oneself from an existing obligation to make additional contributions.
Excerpt from the law – § 26 GmbHG:
(1) The memorandum and articles of association may stipulate that the shareholders may decide to demand additional payments (additional contributions) over and above the nominal amounts of the shares.
(2) The payment of additional contributions shall be made in proportion to the shares held.
(3) The obligation to make additional contributions may be limited in the memorandum and articles of association to a certain amount to be determined in proportion to the shares held.
25,000 Euro share capital, half for cash foundation
A prerequisite for registration in the commercial register is the payment of the required share capital of at least EUR 25,000 into the business account. At least half of the specified amount must be paid into the business account when the GmbH is founded in cash. For the residual value it is irrelevant whether it is a cash contribution or a contribution in kind such as real estate, machinery, real estate liens, etc., the main thing is that the capital contribution is recognisably noted in the shareholders’ agreement according to its type.
Possible contributions in kind:
Real Estate
Machines
Car
Office & business equipment
Copyright
Real estate liens
Trademark rights
Patents
Receivables recoverable
In general, share capital is defined as the sum of all capital contributions and is given the term “subscribed capital” in the balance sheet. The exact value is determined by the shareholders in the shareholders’ agreement and can vary for the individual shareholders. The prescribed minimum amount is set above 100 euros, whereby all higher-value contributions must be a multiple of 50. In addition, a quarter must be paid in as a minimum on each capital contribution until summa sumarum 12,500 euros is reached.
Profits, Losses & Liability
In contrast to partnerships such as the general partnership (OHG) and the limited partnership (KG), a profit made by a limited liability company is not necessarily paid out directly. Rather, the partners decide jointly how to proceed with the profit: In the case of a profit distribution, the calculation of the profit shares is carried out in proportion to the shares of the individual partners. In the case of a reserve formation, on the other hand, the profit is retained and contributes to the increase of the equity capital.
The limitation of liability is a decisive factor for the name of a GmbH and often a criterion for choosing this and no other legal form of a company. As a corporation, the GmbH is a legal entity under private law. This has the consequence that the individual partners are limited in their liability to the corporate assets and do not have to participate in the losses with their private assets in the case of corporate debts. Before registration in the commercial register, however, it is still a pre-GmbH and thus all shareholders involved in the pre-foundation are liable without limitation, directly and jointly and severally.
However, a separate liability applies to the managing director: In case of doubt, he is the only one who must also be liable with his private assets.
GmbH Bodies: Managing Director, Supervisory Board & General Meeting of Shareholders
A limited liability company consists of several organs. These bodies are divided into:
The directors,
The Supervisory Board and
The shareholders’ meeting.
The managing directors deal with the day-to-day business and other matters of the company and represent their company externally in accordance with the GmbHG. The supervisory board is required by law above a certain number of employees and acts as the company’s supervisory body by appointing and advising the management, but also by monitoring and, in case of doubt, dismissing it. Alternatively, its establishment can also be determined within the framework of the articles of association. The shareholders’ meeting acts as the decision-making body of the GmbH.
If you want to know more about the individual bodies of a limited company, read on here:
After presenting the typical characteristics of a limited liability company, you have certainly already recognised the advantages that this legal form offers you: The high start-up capital also makes the GmbH a reputable legal form, which can be an advantage especially in matters of company financing. Financial institutions are therefore often willing to issue good loans and business partners and customers gain more security due to the good credit rating.
Furthermore, contributions in kind are also accepted, so that it is not solely a matter of the cash assets of a shareholder. The financial risk, on the other hand, remains low, since the partners are not held liable with their private assets. Taxation with corporation tax is also more favourable in many cases than having to handle everything – as is the case with partnerships – via income tax.
Flexible GmbH models further allow to establish a GmbH both alone and among partners as well as in a team – the management can be arranged internally and externally for one or more persons. Shares in the GmbH can be bought and sold by both individuals and legal entities. This makes the change of shareholders much easier.
Respected legal form
High credit rating
More security for banks, business partners & customers
Contributions in kind are permissible
Low financial risk due to limitation of liability
More favourable taxation with corporation tax
High flexibility in structure & management
Legal entities are accepted as shareholders
Simple change of shareholders
Disadvantages: Trade tax liability, 25.000 Euro share capital & liability
The disadvantages, which the establishment of a GmbH can bring with itself, are likewise fast localized: On the one hand, the high share capital of at least 25,000 euros is an obvious problem for many start-ups. Also the social adhesion measures itself accordingly to at least 25,000 euro. The foundation may not take place informally, but is subject to extensive formalities and specifications. In case of doubt, the managing director is also liable with his private assets. Banks can easily leverage the exemption from liability if, despite high creditworthiness, they aim for a directly enforceable guarantee from the shareholders. Last but not least, the GmbH is subject to trade tax and, depending on the purpose of the company and how it is handled, has to pay further taxes.
High share capital required
Liability based on share capital
No informal incorporation
Possible private liability for managing directors
Banks may require directly enforceable guarantees
High trade tax levies
Evaluation: Invest, Risk & Hedge
After comparing the advantages and disadvantages, it becomes clear: At first glance, the formation process seems complex and much more extensive than, for example, with a civil law partnership (GbR)… Basically, however, the process is not overly difficult, especially if it is a one-person company. A limited liability company makes particular sense if business projects are planned that are exposed to a high level of risk, or if the managing director and shareholder are one and the same person. Business founders with monetary reserves and real estate investors are given many options for structuring and managing their dreams and entrepreneurial goals through a GmbH.
Especially for families, the GmbH is often a suitable legal form, since each family member can contribute to the company according to his or her qualifications, possibilities and reliability, and changes can easily be made across generations.
GmbH models with and without shareholders
As a sole shareholder, you are your own boss: you are founder, shareholder and managing director at the same time and can set up your GmbH entirely according to your wishes. If the entrepreneurial responsibility is too high for you or if you have plans for whose implementation you are dependent on several people, you can bring in as many co-founders as you wish or add them to the GmbH later. You can also divide the management authority among one or more persons. The multi-person GmbH is therefore the most common GmbH model.
By appointing new shareholders or leaving existing shareholders, the limited company model you choose can easily change. Whether it’s a one-person company, a two-person limited liability company or even a company that operates without any shareholders at all…. In each case, there are specifics you should be aware of as they deviate from the norm of the traditional limited liability company. In the following, you will learn the most important aspects for solo founders, founding duos and team founders in order to be able to make an informed decision regarding the form of company that is best suited to you and your plans before you start your own business.
Tip: For GmbH formations with a maximum of three shareholders, a sample protocol is available that can significantly simplify the formation process for you.
You think the idea of a limited liability company is not bad at all and are now wondering how you can combine your capital company with the real estate business? A real estate company is a company that serves the financing, development, realization, leasing or marketing of real estate – starting with a single property up to a real estate portfolio in the three- or multi-digit range. The management of real estate property or third-party real estate on behalf of third parties can also be handled by a real estate company.
Small tip: When acquiring and/or managing real estate, make sure that all details are clearly stated in the partnership agreement.
Vermögensverwaltende GmbH – Variant 1: Advantages of the Immobilien GmbH
This variant of the asset-managing GmbH is often referred to as a leasing company due to the advantages associated with it. It impresses with several advantages, first and foremost impressive tax advantages: Instead of having to pay tax on the rental property privately at high rates (income tax, solidarity surcharge, church tax), a corporation placed in front of the property can save taxes to a considerable extent. The rental income is counted as business income and is therefore taxed at the corporate tax rate, which significantly reduces the overall tax burden.
Furthermore, the renting and leasing of private real estate property is generally not considered a commercial activity, which would have to be regarded as taxable. The pure asset management takes place outside the general economic traffic, which is why the trade tax is completely omitted upon application to the competent tax office. In order not to risk a later taxation with the full trade tax rate, you should outsource all commercial administrative as well as manual tasks as a precaution.
Attention: In the case of a real estate GmbH, the usual distribution of profits is not provided for, as the shareholders must charge the final withholding tax on their earnings in the event of a distribution of profits. Instead, any savings resulting from the tax benefits will be used to repay debts or as an asset investment.
Asset-managing GmbH – Variant 2: Advantages of the holding company
This variant of the asset-managing GmbH is – in contrast to the Immobilien GmbH presented above – a commercial real estate company. Here, direct participations are combined in a hierarchically superior parent company – called a holding company. In addition to holdings in corporations such as the GmbH and the AG, other corporate legal forms can also be incorporated. One of the purposes of a holding company is to save taxes: By combining the various company holdings, no capital gains tax is levied in the event of a profit distribution.
Taxes for GmbH shareholders: KSt, GewSt, USt & Co.
As a GmbH shareholder, you need to know about some types of tax, because with the establishment of your company you receive income from your business and must of course also pay tax on this. In accordance with tax law, sales tax must therefore naturally be paid, insofar as the GmbH does not only carry out tax-free sales. The following applies to all corporations: They are subject to corporate income tax. An exemption from taxation is possible under certain circumstances, for example if the GmbH meets the criteria for non-profit status. The payment of trade tax is also obligatory for a GmbH, even if all founding members were freelancers, because by virtue of its legal form it is always regarded as a commercial enterprise.
As an employer, the GmbH is of course also responsible for the payment of income tax for all persons in an employment relationship with it. Under tax law, the managing director is considered a dependent employee. When a property is purchased, a one-time land transfer tax is due. It is always demanded if the company not only rents real estate, but acquires it by purchase. For all real estate owned by the GmbH, the real estate tax is then also applied.
Conclusion: Limited liability company – For whom is it worthwhile?
With versatile GmbH models you can start your dream of your own company in any constellation and have the possibility to react flexibly to changes in the number of shareholders. Whether you prefer to work alone or in a team – a GmbH offers solo founders, team founders and entrepreneurial partnerships a suitable legal form to handle even risky transactions skillfully and without private liability. The easy introduction of new shareholders and changeable management allow for a cross-generational management of the corporation and can also organize a secure succession.
In real estate terms, asset-managing real estate companies are particularly worthwhile for start-ups and investors with high private assets who wish to manage, rent out and, if necessary, sell their own and/or third-party real estate portfolios on a non-commercial (Immobilien GmbH) or commercial (Holding) basis. The GmbH is also a good choice for long-term transfers of real estate property to children and grandchildren. Furthermore, the capital contributed to the GmbH is protected even if private financial bottlenecks arise.
Comparison: Sole proprietorship, one-man GmbH, small AG or entrepreneurial company?
If you plan to set up your business on your own, you can choose between different legal forms of business: On the one hand, there is the classic sole proprietorship, in which you act as a freelancer or registered trader, or set up a small business. Alternatively, you can choose between the one-man limited liability company and the entrepreneurial company – often referred to as a “mini-GmbH” – or set up a small public limited company.
Sole proprietorship & one-person GmbH
Basically, there is not much difference between the two legal forms of a sole proprietorship and a single-member company, because in both cases you are the sole shareholder with sole power of management and sole power of representation. However, the decisive difference arises in the form of the liability issue: As a registered businessman (e. Kfm.) or registered businesswoman (e. Kff.) you are liable without limitation, directly and jointly and severally – as the sole shareholder of a one-person GmbH, on the other hand, you are liable exclusively for the business up to the amount of the capital contribution you have made.
Are you a sole proprietor yourself and no longer want to bear the enormous liability risk? Then you should think about converting your sole proprietorship into a one-person limited liability company. The change of form is easily accomplished, but can make a huge difference in case of losses! In order to avoid personal liability, as part of the registered traders (e. K.) you only need a notarial certificate confirming a value of at least 25,000 euros for your business and submit this to the commercial register together with the opening balance sheet. The sole proprietorship is practically brought into the GmbH as a contribution in kind.
Entrepreneurial company & small public limited company
Alternatively, you can consider setting up an entrepreneurial company (UG). Often referred to as a “small GmbH” or “mini-GmbH”, this legal form of company is a sub-form of the conventional limited liability company, but unlike the “normal” GmbH, it only requires a single euro as share capital. It is therefore particularly attractive for solo founders who do not have 25,500 euros in their bank account. Without the share capital of a GmbH, however, your image with the banks could be lower and your chances of getting a good loan could decrease.
The so-called “small AG” is primarily intended for individual shareholders who wish to keep their public limited company within a small group of people. Apart from the individual shareholder, who also equally assumes the role of the management board, only three other persons are required to be appointed as supervisory board members. However, the formation of a public limited company, regardless of its size, is very complex and more cost-intensive than the other common forms of corporate law. Therefore, a one-person limited liability company or an entrepreneurial company may be more suitable if you intend to found your company on your own. Alternatively, you may also consider setting up a sole proprietorship.
You can find out more about the different legal forms for solo founders here:
Legal forms – What types of company are there? If you want to start your first company, then choosing the ideal legal form is one of the first steps in the process of setting up a company. Whether it’s a special real estate company or a start-up, I’ve summarized all the types of companies in Germany for you here.
In this article you will learn the basics about real estate companies. Briefly explained: A real estate company is a company that pursues the purpose of renting, developing, financing, realizing and/or marketing. It doesn’t matter if it’s one property or multiple properties. The management of residential and commercial real estate – in its own interest or as a service offered to third parties – is also a popular focus for real estate companies and asset management GmbHs. Find out more about the main advantages and disadvantages of buying real estate and the expected costs.
