Setting up your business: A step-by-step guide

Are you from an EU country, from a member of the European Economic Area or from Switzerland? Are you studying in Germany, either as an undergraduate or postgraduate, and do you have an idea for a business that you would like to get off the ground? Here you can find out the criteria that you need to meet. Once this box has been ticked, you can find out what you need to do to turn your idea into a business. There are three key questions that need to be answered: 

• What am I allowed to do?
  You can find information about so-called "regulated professions": You need to fulfil extremely specific vocational qualifications in order to become self-employed in these professions. Approval is easier to come by in the non-regulated professions. You can find out whether your business idea falls under the heading "commercial professions" or is classed as a "freelance profession" in Germany – the registration procedures are different for each. We will also tell you about "fictitious self-employment" (Scheinselbständigkeit), which is forbidden in Germany. 

• What do I need?
  We tell you which documents, permits and authorisations you need to become self-employed, and where you need to go to register your new business. There is also a "Business plan" section, which shows you how to write your own business plan.

• What's next?
  Even when you have obtained all of the required permits and authorisations, and have drawn up your business plan, there will still be a few things to take care of when it comes to making your business idea a reality. Here you can find information about important insurance policies, about dealing with staff, and about key marketing principles. You will learn what you need to consider when it comes to bookkeeping and which taxes you will need to pay.