Schalast | News

Schalast Startup Services – Founders‘ Workshop

02.12.2022, News

For company founders, an often-decisive question arises right at the beginning: How and in what form do we set up our startup?

To answer this question, there are several legal forms to choose from. To support the choice of the right form, Schalast outlines the most common legal forms and their characteristics, as well as the start-up process in a founders' workshop.

To kick things off, the most common legal forms in Germany, such as partnerships, corporations and sole proprietorships (individual enterprises), are examined.

When choosing a legal form, various considerations are crucial. Therefore, among others, factors of capital procurement, number of founders/shareholders, costs (formation costs, administration costs), success risk, and image are discussed.

The following provides an overview of the content discussed:

1. Preliminary considerations in the choice of the legal form

2. The most common legal forms in Germany at a glance

  • Sole proprietorships (individual enterprises): Einzelunternehmen
  • Private partnerships: Offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG)
  • Capital companies: Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH)
  • Further forms: Mixed forms (GmbH & Co. KG)

3. Summary of key aspects

  • Advantages & disadvantages of a Capital company vs. a private partnership
  • Advantages & disadvantages of an AG vs. a GmbH / UG
  • The organizational structure of a GmbH / UG
  • The organizational structure of an AG
  • Excursion: Conversation of legal forms at a glance

4. Insolvency (prevention) at a glance

  • Duty to file for insolvency in the case of…
  • Duties of the managing director in a crisis of the company
  • Possible preventive measures

5. Steps for startup of a GmbH / UG

  • Setup of a GmbH
  • Steps for a startup of a GmbH / UG

6. Taxation at a glance

7. Short overview: Residence permit

  • Residence permit: overview
  • Residence permit (limited): Schengen visa / business visa
  • Residence permit (limited): Residence permit
  • Residence permit (unlimited): Settlement permit

With this overview as an introduction to setting up a business, we would like to give founders a supportive idea of which legal form can be the best for their venture and achieve the greatest possible success.

If we can assist you in this regard, please feel free to contact us.