General legal information

How important is an accident insurance?

The German Statutory Health Insurance Increased Competition Act (GKV-WSG) made all citizens subject to mandatory health insurance. This also affects more than 32,000 self-employed individuals who do not currently have any health insurance. However, this mandatory health insurance also applies to people who are not compulsorily ensured with statutory health insurance for other reasons and who have not obtained other insurance. This may include employees with an income above the mandatory limit for statutory health insurance.

Whilst the success of your company requires you to engage with this business risk, it is equally important to ensure risk provision to mitigate any potential losses. Below you can find information regarding the most important aspects of insurance cover for your company.

If you wish to carry out self-employed commercial activities, you must register your business as follows.

Merchant or non-merchant? The commercial register is designed to prove clarity regarding legal relationships which concern commercial transactions. Get more information about the legal consequences of being defined as a merchant here.

Giving your own company a name is sometimes more difficult than you might expect. Here, we explain what you should and should not do.

Your company wants to expand and establish a branch office or permanent establishment in Hamburg? Here's what you need to know.

You have the choice: KG, AG, OHG, GmbH or GmbH & Co.KG. We have an overview over the german legal forms.

Are you looking to establish a branch office, permanent establishment or representative office for your foreign company in Germany? Do you have questions about business registration and special permits? You will find information about incorporating a foreign branch office and business registration here.

The new Limited Liability Company Law has created an entry-level variant of the limited liability company (GmbH) in the form of the entrepreneurial limited company (limited liability).