We have just moved to Germany from Finland. My wife is German and has moved here to continue to work. I am a triathlon coach and swimming coach/teacher. I am self-employed. Please could you advise me, how I can legally continue operating as a triathlon coach/swimming coach/Teacher in Germany - register my business and pay tax?
As you are a citizen of the European Union, you are free to set up a business in Germany. Therefore, it is important to distinguish that there are two ways of setting up a business: you can either work as a freelancer (“Freiberufler”) or set up a business as a self-employed entrepreneur (“Gewerbe”). Being self-employed or a freelancer (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/ways-of-setting-up-your-business) makes a difference with regard to certain formalities and has an impact in your company’s legal structure. Your local tax office will decide, whether your profession is considered “freiberuflich” or “gewerblich”, once you register your business at the latest four weeks after you started your activities. Here you will find out more about the two different ways of setting up a business: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/ways-of-setting-up-your-business
Setting up a business in Germany, you will normally have to pay tax to the tax office, which is the local authority of Germany’s financial administration. Amongst other factors, the type of tax you need to pay depends on your company’s size and legal structure (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/startup-types-ways-of-setting-up-your-business#legal-structures) as well as on your earnings. You will find out more about taxes, insurance and laws on “Make it in Germany”: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/starting-up-your-business#tax
Besides, there are many public information centers, which will advise you as you set up your own business. On the Startup Portal, under “advice and information”, you will find the contact information of regional and national information centers for entrepreneurs with a migrant background (https://www.existenzgruender.de/DE/Service/Beratung-Adressen/Linksammlung/Gruender-innen-Migrationshintergrund/inhalt.html). A general contact list is available on the Startup Portal (http://www.existenzgruender.de/DE/Weg-in-die-Selbstaendigkeit/Entscheidung/Beratung/Beratung-finden/inhalt.htm). Similarly, the Authority Finder will also tell you about your nearest information center: https://www.existenzgruender.de/DE/Planer-Hilfen/Interaktiver-Aemter-Finder/inhalt.html
As you are operating in Germany, a good knowledge of German is also important. Even as you prepare your business, you will find that many official documents are available in German only. If your German is not good enough yet, you can take a language course before you set up your business. Some advanced courses have a special focus on the business world: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/training-learning/the-german-language
To get to know more: Step by step information regarding setting up a business in Germany are available on the website "Make it in Germany": http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-Germany
We wish you all the best.
Kind regards
Justina Alichniewicz
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
September 2017
