On the 18th of November 2023, a series of rule changes came into place across Germany that made the EU Blue Card more accessible to skilled foreign workers. … Read more
Category Archive: Doing Business in Berlin
How to get the A1 Bescheinigung
What is an A1 Bescheinigung? Why might I need it? How do I get it? If you are living and working not just in Germany, but also other EU and EFTA countries, you will eventually be asked to get an A1 Bescheinigung. It’s so that both (or all!) EU/EFTA countries in which you work can figure out where you’re covered when it comes to social security.
Why you must have an Impressum on your German business website
When you build a website or web presence for your business in Germany, your “Impressum” must feature prominently. What is an Impressum and how do you write it?
Client Spotlight: Alex Maxwell
Introducing our first star…
Alex Maxwell is up in our new Client Spotlight Series. This series was inspired by the many amazing people our team has had the privilege of working with over the years – it is my absolute pleasure to have Dr. Alex Maxwell as the first!
Wow, where do I even start sharing this amazing human with you? Though her accent will fool you into thinking she’s from the U.S. (yes, I am a U.S. native and saying this with absolutely no pause), Alex is from Russia. After doing some cultural exchange programs in the states, Alex decided at around 20 that she wanted to emigrate.
What it’s like to sign a German notary contract: tales from the interpreting booth
When I first found myself in a notary’s office, it was a shock. He was in full garb – robes, a gold and scarlet waistcoat, a traditional baroque wig with a ponytail. We were ushered silently into an enormous conference room with a chandelier – I felt a bit like I had landed on stage at the opera house and I’d forgotten my costume.
What’s the KSK? Kathleen explains: all about the Künstlersozialkasse in Berlin
I was asked to speak at a Monthly Meet Up event on Tuesday evening hosted by Touring Artists e.V. as an expert on the Künstlersozialkasse (artists’ social security). With a bit of humour and a whole bunch of crazy anecdotes, we dived into the application process in delightful detail.
All about being a Kleinunternehmer (small business) in Germany
You’re a small fish in a big pond. If you’ll only make a very modest turnover, you can benefit from a simple VAT arrangement: you don’t charge VAT, you don’t claim VAT. Welcome to life as a Kleinunternhemer.
Am I a freelancer or a tradesperson? Check the catalogue!
“So.. what do you do in Berlin?” It’s fun to wave the term freelancer around casually, perhaps even with an air of pride. But then you have to deal with the tax and immigration offices and suddenly everyone’s confused. Red Tape Translation would love to help you find your bureaucratic identity.
Applications for Neustarthilfe are open
Good news: It’s finally here. The application process for Überbrückungshilfe III started in mid-February, and the coveted Neustarthilfe für Soloselbstständige followed last Tuesday.
Neustarthilfe für Solo-Selbständige
Lots of freelancers find themselves in a tough financial situation. Ever since the pandemic started, many of us have been left entirely without work. There are financial instruments like Kurzarbeitergeld for employees, but freelancers have often been left with no choice but to get their basic needs covered by the Jobcenter.
Novemberhilfe, Dezemberhilfe, Neustarthilfe, Soforthilfe … please explain?
Lockdown ruining your revenue? Homeschooling your kids instead of earning? Enter a confusing array of government grants designed to compensate you. There are so many of them, it’s hard to keep track. Here’s what we know so far.
IBB to check whether you really needed Soforthilfe II in Spring
The Investitionsbank Berlin will be asking all freelancers and small businesses who received Soforthilfe in the Spring whether they needed it or not. If they didn’t really need it or didn’t need all of it, they should pay some or all of it back.