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A German shelf company is a registered but inactive company that can be immediately activated with all necessary documents in place. It has a bank account, an opening balance sheet, and a tax number for your new company.
What makes a German shelf company GmbH so interesting?
The German model for starting a business is one of the most straightforward, efficient, and flexible in the world. Unlike in many other places, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on lawyers or accountants to set up a limited liability company (GmbH). Instead, you can do it yourself. All you need is your home address and some basic information about your business idea, which we'll then provide through our platform.
Setting up a German GmbH (limited liability company) is possible, but it can be time-consuming and costly. Instead, consider leveraging our expertise in forming companies in Germany. By purchasing a pre-established shelf company with our assistance, you can quickly gain legal competence and start your business activities promptly. This solution offers the fastest route to market, allowing you to focus on building your business without the delays of starting from scratch. With our experience in establishing companies like GmbHs, we navigate potential pitfalls and efficiently communicate with authorities and other involved parties.
Starting a new company would consume valuable time, while our approach expedites the process.
The formation of a new company usually takes between 2 and 3 months. After the notary appointment, you have to open a business account – depending on the bank, this can take 1 or 2 weeks. The notary cannot submit the GmbH incorporation documents to the commercial register until the share capital has been fully paid up. The registry court reviews the application, often makes an inquiry with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), or demands an advance on costs. Only then, once all questions are answered, will the company be entered in the Commercial Register. You can skip this whole procedure by purchasing off-the-shelf a GmbH that has never been active and is absolute without debts.
Steps to purchase a ready-made shelf company in Germany
Step 1: To reserve a ready-made company, we kindly ask you to pay 100 EUR deposit fee here. You will then receive a confirmation and the company documents. Within one business day, Consultinghouse will furnish our international client with the company name and company numbers of the shelf company. Currently, Consultinghouse will act as the nominees for the directors and shareholders of the company.
Step 2: Thereafter, we will initiate the process of changing the company name and corporate structure by appointing our clients' desired directors, shareholders, and managing directors. Our legal team will diligently prepare the necessary documents, including the power of attorney, share transfer agreement, and board resolutions. It is essential for our clients to sign and notarize these documents in their respective countries. Subsequently, the documents should be legalized at a local German embassy before being sent to Germany via courier. The approval process is estimated to take around one week.
Step 3: For GmbH, our clients will be required to inject the paid-up capital of 25,000 euros.
To make payment as convenient as possible for you, we offer different ways of payment:
Advance payment: If you pay the purchase price before the notarization, you will be the new company owner immediately after the notary appointment and can start your company activity on the same day. (recommended)
Payment after notarization: Alternatively, you can transfer 50% of the purchase price before and the remaining part after the notarization. In that case, the purchase contract does not take effect until the full purchase price has been paid, and you cannot start your activity until the notary has provided confirmation.
Step 4: Notary Appointment
You can decide for yourself whether you want to travel to Germany for the notary appointment or prefer a remote certification.
Your contact person at Consultinghouse will be pleased to make an appointment with a German notary for you.
Step 5: Start doing business with your purchased company
After the notarization, you can start your business activity straight away, provided that you have signed the deeds in Germany before a notary. The process for remote certifications takes about 1 to 3 weeks. Please note that when you can start the activity of your business and whether it is possible immediately after the notary appointment depends on several legal factors. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your client advisor.
