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American Student in Germany: running a web-based-company?

Frage

I run a very small web-based company and I have no employees other than myself. I am a US citizen and I have just been accepted to a Masters program at a german university and will later go on to get a PhD. I would like to keep my existing company working and I am not sure what I would need to do that in Germany. I write custom web based software.

Basically it would help cover all my living expenses while taking classes and give customers time to move to other providers at their own pace. I doubt I will do more than 30.000 Euros in business per year and I won\'t be expanding the company. All my customers are USA based and all the invoicing and payments would be done electronically. My plan is to slowly shut down the company over the course of time I am in Germany so by the time I finish my PhD the company will be done. I just want to make sure that everything is done completely legally and I am not really sure where to start. I don\'t need any loans or any form of funding.

Antwort

Information on the setup procedure for business operations in Germany is available in the Investment Guide to Germany (www).

With regard to entrepreneur support, the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in the city of your choice is the first point of contact in Germany. Hence, please contact the IHK Aachen (www).

Moreover, you may also contact the Tax administration for foreign investors (www).

The Tax administration also offers an advance ruling (www).

We hope you find this initial information helpful.

Source:
Germany Trade and Invest
- Gesellschaft für Außenwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH
Headquarters
June 2014

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