Advisory services Get advice from experts: Numerous advice centres and information services provide support in your area. Good advice can help contribute to the success of your business. Make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to get support from an expert. In Germany, there are many public information centres that can help you set up your business. You can also find a general list of contact persons on the start-up portal (External link) . The Authority Finder (External link) ( Behördenwegweiser) will also tell you which information centres are available in your area. You can also hire a private consulting firm to help you prepare and embark on your first entrepreneurial steps. Some German federal states provide grants towards the costs incurred for this kind of consultation. It is important that your place of residence and your company's registered office are in Germany. The start-up portal (External link) will tell you where to apply for this grant. Practical tips for business consultations in Germany It is sensible to be well-prepared for the consultation. Do not be afraid to address business topics immediately; in Germany, people tend to prefer dealing with specific questions rather than excessive small talk. Advisory services for entrepreneurs with a migratory background Addresses of regional and national information centres, specifically for entrepreneurs with a migratory background, can be found on the start-up portal in the “ Setting up a business as a person with

Integration courses In Germany, integration courses are official language courses and orientation courses. They are a great option for learning more about the German society. On this page On this page What is an integration course? Who can participate in an integration course? How to find an integration course Special services for families and women What is an integration course? Integration courses cover everyday topics such as work and professions, shopping, television or childhood education. Participants also learn how to deal with administrative offices, how to write emails or letters and how to carry oneself properly in job interviews. You will learn about culture, politics and living together in Germany, as well as the values German society is based on. The orientation course usually consists of 100 lessons, while the language course entails 600 lessons. Special courses are offered for women, parents or adolescents and adults up to the age of 26, among others. At the end of each course, all participants take a final examination free of charge. Who can participate in an integration course? The integration courses are intended for anyone who is new to Germany and whose German language skills are not yet adequate enough for dealing with the demands of everyday life. Whether you are free to attend a course or if the course is mandatory for you depends on your country of origin and your level of fluency in German. Here is where we have compiled the most important regulations

Financing & funding programmes Do you already know which costs you have to bear when setting up your business? Find out here which options you have to finance your plans. You already know how much money you will need to set up your business? Now is the time to raise the necessary capital. The Platform for Founders (External link) has an overview of options for this endeavour. Equity and bank loans In financing, there is generally made a distinction between equity and borrowed capital. Your equity (External link) is the financial cornerstone of your business. It includes your personal assets (e.g. cash and savings) and objects that become part of your business (e.g. machinery and equipment). Generally, this means that the more funds you raise on your own have, the more independent you are. For banks, equity serves as security. Ideally, equity should amount to at least 20 percent of your overall capital. Surveys indicate that “insufficient securities” and “too little equity” are the most common reasons why banks reject a loan application. You can obtain loans from a regular bank or a savings bank ( Sparkasse ). The type of bank and loan best suited for your business depends on the amount of money you need, as well as how long you will need it for. You could find a suitable financial institution on the Gründerplattform (External link) . In general, the longer the loan period and the higher the risk (assessed by your bank), the higher the interest you will have to pay for the loan

The business plan Goals, financing and realisation – the business plan is your most important tool to convince partners and credit institutions of your company’s vision. You have found your business idea and want to put it into practice? Then you should prepare your start into self-employment . The most important instrument for this is the business plan. A business plan helps you to plan your project step by step. It is crucial if you want to convince someone of your business idea and plans – banks, for example, use the business plan to check whether they will grant you a loan. Advice to improve your business plan Get advice beforehand. An advisor can give you helpful tips on how to improve your business plan. You can find out how to write your business plan, what belongs in the plan and what else you need to consider on the pages of the start-up portal (External link) . You already know what should be in your business plan? Then the Platform for Founders (External link) will show you how to write it step by step. Are you wondering whether your business idea has been sufficiently thought through? Are you unsure of what your financial planning should look like? Then have a look at the checklists on the start-up portal (External link) . Advisory service Video: Setting up a business in Germany Information on the web Start-up Portal Checklist for your business plan IHK Berlin Short film summarizing the most important information about your business plan in a visual way Checklist

Recognition procedure How does the recognition procedure work? During the recognition procedure, the competent authority checks whether your qualification is equivalent to the German reference occupation. The recognition process determines the comparability of your qualification. Recognition is not always required - it depends on your profession and your qualification. In the section “ Who needs recognition? ”, you can find out whether the process applies to you. How does the recognition procedure work in Germany? During the recognition procedure , the respective competent authority in Germany checks whether your foreign qualification is equivalent to a German one or whether there are substantial differences. The procedure is also known as “equivalence assessment” ( Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung ). The competent authority assesses, generally within three to four months, your documents as soon as they have all been submitted. To find out exactly how the recognition procedure works and where you can get specific information about your profession in Germany, please use the Recognition Finder (External link) in the skilled-worker section of the “Anerkennung in Deutschland” portal. There you have the option to immediately start finning in your online application, if available. On the “ Anerkennung in Deutschland (External link) ” portal, you will also learn how the digital application process works and what you need to consider when filling out the application. Result of the recognition

Who needs recognition? Do I need recognition? Depending on your country of origin, profession and desired residence title, the recognition of your foreign qualification may be necessary. Find more detailed information below. Regulated professions You can only work in regulated professions in Germany if you have a very specific qualification. This, for example, applies to many professions in the fields of health care, legal advice, and teaching in state schools. There are also regulations for certain master craftworkers who run a business. In engineering professions, there is a regulation if the professional title of “engineer” is required for the occupation. To find out whether your profession is regulated in Germany, please use the Recognition Finder of “ Anerkennung in Deutschland (External link) ”. If you wish to work in one of these regulated professions in full capacity, your will generally require the recognition of your foreign qualification, regardless of your country of origin. For non-EU nationals, the full recognition is also a requirement for certain residence titles, such as the visa for qualified professionals or for most cases of the EU Blue Card . Moreover, no points must be scored for the opportunity card if the full recognition has been acquired. The recognition occurs in the framework of a so-called recognition procedure ; you will find detailed information on this in our “ Recognition procedure " section. In regulated professions, a licence to practise is

Politics, democracy, freedom You are moving to Germany and would like to know more about the country’s political system? This page provides you with an overview of the topic. Key facts at a glance Population 83.6 million Form of government Parliamentary democracy Capital Berlin Currency 1 euro (EUR) = 100 cents Safe and secure Since its founding, the Federal Republic of Germany has been a very politically stable country. The division of state authority prevents the abuse of power and legal security. This means, that the laws and the independent jurisdiction are reliable. Germany is one of the safest countries in the world. It is ranked 20 th out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index (External link) of 2025, and in the Corruption Perceptions Index (External link) of 2024 Germany is one of the fifteen countries most resistant to corruption. To preserve domestic peace and stability, the federal government invests a lot in security research. In case of emergency, there is a network of security authorities and rescue services ensuring the population’s safety and providing emergency services on a high technological and organisational level. Democracy Since the German nation state was founded in 1871, Germany has had a long history. There were many challenges, including the world wars and the dictatorship of the national socialists. The Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949, and it learned its lessons from its history. The 76-year-old Basic Law and a stable democracy

Learning German The German language is an important key to successfully settle down and to feel comfortable in Germany. We will show you what options you have to learn German – either in Germany or in your home country. Do I need to know German? Language classes Integration courses

Settling Here you can find information about everyday life in Germany. The section provides information on leisure activities, integration and settling in Germany. Leisure Find out how you can make a new life for yourself in Germany and get used to living and working here. Useful everyday knowledge What are the post office opening hours? How does waste sorting work? These FAQs tell you everything you need to know about everyday life in Germany.

Money & insurance How do you open a bank account in Germany? What do you have to consider in regard to medical insurance? Which other insurances should you take out? Here, you will find the answers. Bank account Health insurance Additional insurances