Start-ups in Germany

The Business start-up portal of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy provides important information on making a successful start, the plunge into self-employment, planning the start-up and managing a company.

The German Employment Agency offers personal consultancy sessions on founding your own business.

(website only available in German)

The Nexxt initiative is an exchange platform for entrepreneurs who are looking to dispose of their company or take one over.

(website only available in German)

The Federal Ministry for Economics and Energy (BMWi) portal providing information about founding a technology or knowledge-based company.

Are you German and want to found a company in the Netherlands, or do you want to provide transnational products and services? Or are you based in the Netherlands and want to find employment in Germany? The German and Dutch Start-up Portal helps get you started.

When starting your own business, you not only have to focus on the start-up, but also have to safeguard yourself against risks. Quite often, financial security for your retirement also needs completely reorganising. Right now, though, time is scarce to take care of this matter. The following pages present a summary of the most important points so that you know what's what at a glance.

The Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle – BAFA) is a higher federal authority responsible for a wide range of tasks that overlap with the fields of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Centre of Excellence for foreign trade, economic development, energy and climate protection.

This page contains plenty of information about foreign markets, laws & customs, as well as development projects, and investment opportunities in Germany. The "Country facts" (Länderwissen) section allows you to select a country to find out more about its specific business sectors, the economic climate, law, etc. The page is available in a range of different languages.

Germany's company founder week is held annually in close association with the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). There are workshops, seminars, planning games, competitions and many more events associated with self-employment.

This Federal Ministry for Economics and Energy site contains many research reports and documentation relating to starting your own business.

(website only available in German)

The Federal Ministry for Economics and Energy provides information about regional consultancy services that are specifically aimed at the needs of company founders with immigration backgrounds.

(website only available in German)

The National Agency for Women Start-ups Activities and Services (bga) offers the political, business, academic and public sectors a platform for information and services related to women entrepreneurship in all areas and phases of company foundation, consolidation and succession.