What the costs are made of
- Notarising the formation: a 2.0 fee (at least €120) with several shareholders, a 1.0 fee (at least €60) with one founder.
- Commercial register filing: a 0.5 fee, at least €30.
- Shareholder list with own articles: a 0.5 or 0.3 fee, at most €250. The model protocol doubles as the list.
- XML data for the court: a 0.2 fee, at most €125.
- Post and telecom flat rate: 20% of the fees, at most €20 per notarial business, plus 19% VAT.
- Register court: €225 to register a GmbH or UG (€360 with a non-cash contribution) plus one third of that for making the entry available, €300 in total.
Why the model protocol is cheaper
With your own articles, the law values the agreement and the filing at no less than €30,000 each, and a resolution appointing the managing director adds another €30,000. With the model protocol those minimums do not apply and the share capital is the value. The model protocol fits up to three shareholders and one managing director, with no clauses beyond the statutory ones.
GmbH or UG
A GmbH needs at least €25,000 share capital, half of it paid in before the filing. A UG (haftungsbeschränkt) can start with less, but the capital must be fully paid in before the filing, non-cash contributions are not allowed, and a quarter of each year's profit goes into a statutory reserve.
What is not included
Copy and certified-copy charges, further notary handling fees that depend on the deed, the trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung, set by each municipality), bank, tax adviser and lawyer costs.
Sources: § 34 GNotKG (fee table B) · § 105 GNotKG · § 107 GNotKG · GNotKG fee schedule · HRegGebV fee schedule · § 2 GmbHG
Once the company is registered, send its invoices and estimates with QuickBilling. See invoicing.