From the legal entity to the person signing as Managing Director: everything a foreign company needs to enter, operate, grow, and be led in Germany.
Why TBD
Every market entry starts with the same list: a legal entity, a real address, the registrations nobody warns you about, people to hire, a warehouse, marketing that actually reads as German rather than translated. TBD exists to work through that list, as much of it as a client needs, in whatever order it needs to happen, built on direct, operational experience running the German organization of an international manufacturer, not theoretical advisory.
Service Catalog
Every module below stands on its own and can be engaged in any order, for as long or as short as it's needed. Start where you stand.
Everything it takes to exist here, on paper and on the register.
The back office a subsidiary needs before it needs a subsidiary.
Turning a registered presence into a market position.
Sometimes what's needed isn't a service. It's someone in the chair.
Why the detail matters
Foreign manufacturers cannot register themselves directly for WEEE (Stiftung EAR) or packaging under LUCID; a German-based authorized representative is mandatory for both, and from 12 August 2026 this also applies to foreign companies without a German branch selling packaged goods to German end customers.
€25,000 minimum share capital is required to form a GmbH in Germany, with at least €12,500 paid in at formation. All shares can remain with the manufacturer's own parent company.
An external Managing Director without a blocking minority is treated as an employee for social security purposes, and a formal contract is required. In practice, having at least one Managing Director based in Germany is strongly advisable for banking, tax, and signing authority, even though EU law does not impose a strict residency requirement.
Local insurance cover is expected, not optional: trade credit insurance (Warenkreditversicherung) to protect receivables from German dealers, and product liability / product safety insurance (Produkthaftpflicht) for goods placed on the German market.
Get in touch
A first conversation maps which modules apply, with no obligation to commit to the full journey.
Information pursuant to § 5 of the German Digital Services Act (DDG)
The Business Developer
Inh. Stefan Spriesterbach, MBA
Alte Landstr. 26
51647 Gummersbach
Germany
VAT identification number pursuant to § 27a of the German VAT Act (UStG): DE121996502
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