The savings lever: the model protocol covers 90 percent of solo foundings. Custom articles are for investors, options and special shares — then never sign without a lawyer.
Notary, Account, Commercial Register
Founding is a chain: the notary certifies → the account opens and capital lands → the notary files to the register. The model protocol makes it cheaper and faster.
✓ Verified: 18/07/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Gewerbeamt / Ordnungsamt
Municipal authorityThe Gewerbeamt sits at your municipal administration. Enter your postcode and we will show yours.
Where to go in your city →
COSTS
- €Notary + court + register ~€600–1,000 (model protocol: from ~€350)
plus account and advice
› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I scouted the capital-deposit account in advance: two online banks refused the GmbH i.G., a classic bank opened it in one visit. Start with founder-friendly banks — the list shifts, ask your notary.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Bring an interpreter if your German is weak: the notary must ensure comprehension or postpone the signing. One interpreter hour is cheaper than a burst appointment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What happens between the notary and the register entry? ▾
Open the account for the GmbH i.G., pay in the capital, bank confirmation to the notary — only then does the commercial register publish. Usually 2–4 weeks; the bank slows things, not the notary.
Do I need a specific notary? ▾
Any German notary works; fees are legally identical. The difference is queues and languages: big cities have English-speaking offices with appointments in 1–2 weeks.
Banks refuse an account before registration — a vicious circle? ▾
The account runs for the GmbH in formation (i.G.) — standard practice; fintech banks manage it in days. If one refuses, take the next.
What is off-limits before the register entry? ▾
Signing without the i.G. suffix and stacking liabilities: until the entry, founders are personally on the hook. Big contracts wait for the HRB number.