There are some buzz words whirling around in Germany’s capital city. Mietendeckel (rental ceiling). Mietspiegel (rental index). Mietpreisebremse (rent freeze). These are three different concepts, but I’d like to go through the most recent development, the Mietendeckel. You might be paying too much rent and you might be entitled to a reduction. So let’s get started.
Category Archive: Doing Business in Berlin
How to fill out the IBB Corona Soforthilfe II application: detailed instructions
Corona Soforthilfe grant applications have now closed.
Companies and corporations affected by COVID-19 in Germany: ways to keep afloat
The German Ministry of Finance sat down with the German Ministry of Economics and put their heads together to figure out how to save the thousands of businesses affected by the Corona virus, quickly and with minimum red tape (should we be offended?). This is what they came up: find out if your business is eligible and how to apply for these programs.
Government grants to help the freelance and self-employed in Germany during COVID19
There are plenty of grants, loans and aid programmes proposed for residents of Germany during this difficult time, but there’s a distinct group of people who might not be eligible for any of them, and also aren’t quite ready to dive into the world of welfare at the speed of light: solo freelancers and small businesses. Recognising this, Bavaria took the lead and introduced “immediate aid” for small businesses and freelancers. NRW, Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg and Thüringen followed suit. Berlin and Niedersachsen are the latest states to offer the grant. … Read more
A Directory of English-speaking Lawyers in Berlin – updated 2022
We trawled the net looking for up-to-date information on English-speaking lawyers in Germany’s capital city. We found a few lists, but most of them were dreadfully out of date or not organised in a useful way. So we decided to make our own directory, sorted by field of law. We spoke to all the lawyers personally to make sure they were happy to be listed. You can therefore be assured that these lawyers are responsive to contact requests and open to working with English-speaking clients. As we continue to receive positive responses from Berlin’s English-speaking legal experts, we will update the list. Here it is! Special thanks to Fiona Gillespie for her stellar work in compiling this directory.
How to register a Gewerbe (start a business) in Germany
Today we’ll explore yet another area of infamously complicated German bureaucracy: business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung). A trade licence, known as a ‘Gewerbeschein’, is required for any newly-established commercial enterprise with a fixed premises. This also applies if you are self-employed (unless you’re truly “freelance” – what’s the difference?), moving your existing business to Berlin from another federal state or country. The Gewerbeschein allows you to run your business in the city in which you have registered it.
If you are a sole trader running your own business (self-employed), one of the managing partners of a business partnership, or a representative of a legal entity, it’s your job to take care of the business registration. Here’s everything you need to know.
Which documents do you need to register your business?
You’ll need:
- Proof of identity – either an ID card (Personalausweis) or your passport together with your certificate of registration (Meldebescheinigung) – in some cases, you can declare your identity online.
- The business registration form (Gewerbeanmeldung), filled out – either get it from the local district office, download it electronically to print and fill out or fill it out and submit it online in certain states – see below.
- Residence permit – if you’re a non-EU foreign national, you’ll need to present your residence permit. Make sure it allows self-employment – it should say Selbstständigkeit erstattet or Erwerbstätigkeit gestattet.
- Excerpt from the Trade Register – if the business is listed in the Trade Register, you’ll need to provide the excerpt proving this. For businesses listed in foreign trade registers, you’ll need to provide both the excerpt and a certified German translation.
- To register a legal entity that is still in the process of being established, you’ll need to present a statement of approval from the partners.
- To register a legal entity with multiple representatives, you will need to fill out a supplementary sheet for registering representatives.
NB: To register a foreign business in Germany, you’ll need to have a domestic representative present your paperwork, along with a power of attorney and details of a German address for the business.
Can it be done online?
In 14 out of the 16 German Federal states, you can submit this application online. Each state varies – some allow you to sign it digitally, others need your original signature. If you’re applying in Berlin, there’s a brand new online process, available in English. We’ve tested it out, it takes around 15-20 minutes and is very comprehensive! There’s also no need to print and sign anything as there is a declaration of identity (Identitätserklärung) at the very end. After you’ve paid, you should receive an email confirming your business registration within a few days.
Where can you register your business in person?
If you need to talk to a human, you can still book an appointment at your district office (Bezirksamt). However, unlike registering your address (Anmeldung einer Wohnung), which can be done at any Bezirksamt, you will have to go to your local district office. This means the district office of your business’ premises, not your home address. If you live in Pankow but you want your business registered at your co-working space in Neukölln, go to Neukölln!
How much will it cost you?
The cost of registering your business varies slightly depending on the Federal state, type of business, number of legal representatives and chosen registration process.
The prices in Berlin are as follows:
- Sole traders – EUR 26.00
- Business partnerships – EUR 26.00 per partner
- Legal entities with one legal representative – EUR 31.00 (plus an additional EUR 13.00 for each additional representative)
- Online business registration – EUR 15.00
Book a Skype coaching if you’d like some help getting through the online business registration process. Submitting the form usually takes about 15-20 minutes and once completed, we’ll help you get a self-employed tax number and take you through the basics of staying compliant as a business owner in Germany.
Another interesting resource on starting a business is available at All About Berlin.
Minimum Wage in Germany
A minimum wage (Mindestlohn) has already existed in many European countries for quite a while. Despite this, its introduction in Germany only happened very recently. In 2015, negotiations between the CDU, CSU and SPD saw a minimum wage of €8.50 introduced to Germany in accordance with the Act Regulating a General Minimum Wage. Over the following years, it increased gradually. Right now, it is 9.19 EUR per hour. As of 1 January 2020, it will increase to €9.35 per hour. Some industries have been given a transition period before becoming compliant.
A new way to pay – credit card!
You have spoken and we have listened. We’re happy to announce we’ve now made it even easier to pay for translation, interpreting, admin and coaching services with Red Tape Translation. Now along with the usual suspects: Paypal, TransferWise and a regular bank transfer, as of April 4th you can now pay with your credit card at no extra cost.
We understand that many of you wishing to take advantage of Red Tape Translation’s services have bank accounts overseas and there are usually teething problems with access to accounts when you move to a new country. With that in mind, we’ve taken this step toward making access to our array of expat expertise simpler and, hopefully, making your transition a little smoother.
Just fill out the forms as you normally would (Skype Coaching, Life Admin or Take a Translator) and choose the radio button “credit card”. The rest probably doesn’t need any explanation.
Happy shopping and happy Friday!
Katie from Red Tape Translation
A guide to rental contracts in Germany
Translators get to see a lot of rental aparment contracts. Big ones, small ones, fat ones, skinny ones, vague ones, long ones and horribly restrictive ones. From preposterous airing regulations to antiquated quiet time stipulations, from cold rent to hot water, here’s what to expect when you’re presented with a tenancy contract for a flat in Germany. We’re also happy to help in more detail if you really want to know what you’re getting into before you sign on the dotted line.
The bank won’t pay out my loan until I get the documents translated
Congratulations on purchasing property in Germany! You’ve probably sat through the read-through at the notary’s office by now, and if your German isn’t terrific, chances are you had an interpreter tag along to help you out. Now the bank wants proof that you understand the loan documents before they pay out. What’s the easiest and most cost-effective way to get the money rolling?
My bank needs a statement from a court-sworn interpreter for my loan approval
This type of request has been popping up with surprising frequency. Here’s how it usually goes down. A customer who doesn’t speak German gets approval for a loan from a bank, either alone or as part of a joint purchase, and everything is ready to go except for one thing: the bank sends the loan documents with a requirement for a statement from a court-sworn interpreter. The statement should declare that the interpreter has read out the terms of the loan to the client in English and that the client has understood them. Why is this requirement from banks causing such waves of panic in the interpreting industry?
What’s the Difference Between the German Tax ID Number and the Freelance Tax Number?
You say Steuernummer and I say Steuer-ID-Nummer,
You say Umsatz-ID-Nummer and I say Sozialversicherungsnummer.
Steuernummer, StIDNr, UStID-Nr, SV-Nummer, let’s call the whole thing off.
Hmm. Not really an option. So instead, I’ll take you through it simply, carefully and lovingly. I wish everyone would sing songs about tax.