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How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

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Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#441

Post by usr1106 »

rtpg wrote: post #371
a_bonobo wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the same in Australia; when you apply for permanent residency your application goes into a black hole. I wanted to learn more about my status and all I got back from the immigration people was 'the agent processing your application will contact you. We do not give out contact details for your agent. You will have to wait'. It took about 8 months. Once your 'regular' visa expires you go onto a bridging visa which…

Japan immigration (if you have a college degree) seems to be pretty high up there. PR takes a while, and processing is a bit of a black hole, but generally speaking you apply, application extends your visa a bit, and they get back to you within the period. And it’s maybe $100? People complain but its generally predictable save for applications for a 3 year visa can lead to a 1 year visa or a 3 year visa or a 5 year v…

Isn't Japan the industrialized nation with the lowest fraction of foreigners?

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#442

Post by fxtentacle »

This article seems to be new, but the info in it appears to be very outdated.

1. Most startups now create an UG which has most of the GmbH benefits and protections, but only negligible cost.

2. The handelsregister website is deprecated. It's replacement is quite nice and fast.

Their section 2b also doesn't apply for UG because it's so cheap there is no need for trickery.

Their section about issues finding a bank seem weird to me. I just took the paper slip from the notary office and walked over to Deutsche Bank (the largest mainstream bank) and it took them only a few minutes to set up the account. Then after the card arrived in the mail, I walked back there, paid in the money and gave the paper confirmation from them to the notary guy. I'm not sure how you could make it any easier.

The only thing where I agree is that the spam is a problem.

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#443

Post by rand846633 »

usr1106 wrote: post #420
nicbou wrote: post #114

I document German bureaucracy for a living,[0] and everything is like that. Every life event - immigrating, getting a job, getting married, having a child, buying a car - is mired in slow, paper-based bureaucracy. It is a constant, significant impediment to life in the country. Just last week, I was telling people that the best way to get married in Germany is to get married in Denmark. I cannot overstate how terribl…

I am familiar with both German and Finnish bureaucracy. German bureaucracy is (in)famous for paperwork and using faxes. Citizens/residents have no unique identifier (more and more weakened recently) and need to present documentation for everything. If you have no paper birth certificate you are not born... Finland has had much higher digitalization for decades. You have a person number and authorities store everythin…

Anyone know more about this? Find this really interesting and surprising!

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#444

Post by data_maan »

Tainnor wrote: post #389
whalesalad wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are the redeeming qualities of Germany?

A country that is incredibly rich in historical significance (both good and bad), cultural traditions, art (historical and modern), regional variety and nature. Cities are walkable, public transport is mostly decent (it's perfectly fine to live without a car if you're in the city), crime is low, poverty is low, the economy has been tanking a bit recently, but has traditionally been doing well. In terms of mentality,…

[flagged]

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#445

Post by lifestyleguru »

usr1106 wrote: post #420
nicbou wrote: post #114

I document German bureaucracy for a living,[0] and everything is like that. Every life event - immigrating, getting a job, getting married, having a child, buying a car - is mired in slow, paper-based bureaucracy. It is a constant, significant impediment to life in the country. Just last week, I was telling people that the best way to get married in Germany is to get married in Denmark. I cannot overstate how terribl…

I am familiar with both German and Finnish bureaucracy. German bureaucracy is (in)famous for paperwork and using faxes. Citizens/residents have no unique identifier (more and more weakened recently) and need to present documentation for everything. If you have no paper birth certificate you are not born... Finland has had much higher digitalization for decades. You have a person number and authorities store everythin…

IT in general is stuck in blind valley and doesn't make anything easier anymore with its aggressive outsourcing and profit extraction. The only systems which go quickly and efficiently are those against the interests of an average citizen - e.g. the covid certification apps determining and limiting basic citizen rights. Oftentimes I prefer to show up in person with ID and fetch a printout with confirmation, than to install their bloated sloppy apps tracking the shit out of me.

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#446

Post by robocat »

DyslexicAtheist wrote: post #143
toast0 wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the article you linked in that comment[1], it seems like this exit tax only applied to companies where you own 1% or more? and it's structured as the capital gains tax, but due now, so on the current value minus your cost basis. The US has an exit tax if you renounce citizenship, and it's assessed on your entire net worth. If the article you linked is accurate, this german tax seems much more reasonable. EDIT: a…

isn't comparing it to an even worse jurisdiction like US a bit unfair? why not compare it to other EU countries or even Asia. I'm not a US citizen but being taxed on my global income would be a pretty strong reason to renounce my citizenship.

> strong reason

But not allowed!

"If the Department of Homeland Security determines that the renunciation is motivated by tax avoidance purposes, the individual will be found inadmissible to the United States under Section 212(a)(10)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act"

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#447

Post by amonavis »

niemandhier wrote: post #387
jamil7 wrote: post #382

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you gone through the process? The system wasn’t “designed” at all, it’s completely broken and chaotic. It is 100% the fault of this system and not that of the immigrants going through it. Some of the people involved can also be extremely unpleasant to deal with, even if you speak German.

I accompanied several friends through the process. My observation was that by simply changing the view on what is happening and extrapolating how to act based on that one can achieve quite a lot. I told people the following: 1. The person dealing with you is not there to help you, they are simply executing an act of governance. Rather than wanting them to help you, try to help them close their tickt. 2. You are the t…

To me this is a weird view of government services. I'm paying taxes to have a system serve me, and to have processes support my life not the other way around. Leaving all emotions out of the equation, the job of the jurisdiction under which I fall is so facilitate my legality so I can pursue a productive and enjoyable life. If I'm paying taxes and I'm expected to pitch in the governmental effort, then that's not where I want to be.

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#449

Post by data_maan »

chironjit wrote: post #207
whalesalad wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are the redeeming qualities of Germany?

The best I'd say is a sense of collectiveness that is somewhat higher than other countries. It's not nationalism. Rather, there is some amount of willingness to give up personal comfort for some sort of general/societal greater good. This is really something I've noticed compared to say the UK, Australia, certain asian countries, etc. Not sure why it hasn't translated to improving bureaucracy.

Collectiveness?

I can't wait for the new Nigerian immigrant to swing his beer at Octoberfest arm in arm with the second generation Turk from Munich, all while the waitress, a temporary worker from the Czech Republic, rushes on.

It's not going to happen. Social cohesion is very low, and Germany failed to foster a sense of shared values among immigrants.

Re: How to found a company in Germany: 14 "easy" steps and lots of pain

#450

Post by data_maan »

nicbou wrote: post #339
whalesalad wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are the redeeming qualities of Germany?

Mild summers, good work-life balance, the European Union, decent healthcare, ease of travel, nature. Even though I'm currently in a "it's complicated" relationship with Germany, I moved here by choice because I loved the place. These things are still there, but since I'm working so close to Germany's problems, I let it get to me sometimes.

Doesn't that apply to many other countries as well?
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