I am an American living and working in Germany for twelve years. I am a professional songwriter and want to open a song publishing company just for myself and myself composed songs. I need to know what I must do and how much would it cost. I am a GEMA member, could GEMA help me? Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in setting up a business in Germany. www.make-it-in-germany.com provides international professionals with information on working and living in Germany. Detailed information on setting up a business are also available on “Make it in Germany”: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/visa-for-self-employment
To figure out if you are eligible to start a business in Germany you should first of all clear up if your residence status enables you to establish such an activity. Therefore, we recommend you to contact your Foreigners’ authority (“Ausländerbehörde”). For a first personal advice according your residence status you can also contact the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/about-the-portal/contact/hotline) under the telephone number +49 30 1815 - 1111).
If you, for example, hold a settlement permit (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/visa/living-permanently-in-germany/settlement-permit) you have the unrestricted right to live in Germany with your family and moreover, you are free to work as an employee or take up self-employment.
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 (http://www.bmwi-wegweiser.de/adressen/home/).
Keep in mind, as you are operating in Germany, a good knowledge of German is 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 should make sure to 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
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.
* Please note:
The information presented here is a general service offering. Only the German missions and the foreigners’ authorities are responsible for the issuance of visa resp. residence permits. For further questions, please contact directly the respective authority.
Source: Justina Alichniewicz
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
Februar 2018
