Open a company in Germany — Complete Guide 2026

Everything you need to know about company formation in Germany. Fees, timeline, VAT rates, required documents, and invoicing compliance.

Key Facts

Capital city: Berlin
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Standard VAT: 19%
Reduced VAT: 7%
Min. share capital: €25,000 (GmbH)
Formation time: 14–21 days
Formation fee: €300–1,000

Available Company Types

GmbH
UG
AG
Einzelunternehmen

E-Invoicing Format

PEPPOL / XRechnung (mandatory for B2G)

Required Invoice Fields in Germany

These fields are mandatory on every compliant invoice.

Buyer VAT ID

Seller VAT ID

Invoice date

Invoice number

Line items with VAT rate

Reverse charge note (if applicable)

Source: Germany tax authority

VAT Reverse-Charge for Germany

When selling B2B cross-border from or to Germany, the reverse-charge mechanism applies. Atlas-EU detects this automatically.

Threshold: B2B cross-border within EU.

Generate a Compliant Invoice

Need compliant invoices for your Germany company?

Atlas-EU handles all 19% VAT scenarios, reverse-charge, and PEPPOL export. Start free.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum share capital for a company in Germany?

The minimum share capital in Germany is €25,000 (GmbH).

How long does it take to register a company in Germany?

Company formation in Germany typically takes 14–21 days.

What is the VAT rate in Germany?

The standard VAT rate in Germany is 19%. The reduced rate is 7%.

Not covered in this guide: Actual company registration filing (we provide guidance, not filing services); bank account/EMI integration; tax return filing; payroll/HR.