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How Do I Form a Start up Company

09.04.2019

(updated on

07.04.2026

)

0

Min. read

The successful formation of a company takes place in various steps. Depending on the sector in which you wish to start your business, these steps range from obtaining any necessary permits and opening a business bank account to organising bookkeeping. One of the first and most important steps, however, is the formal formation of the company by entering into a partnership agreement. The content of the partnership agreement is primarily determined by the chosen legal form.Which legal form is the right one for the company. This is a very important question, because the legal form determines not only whether and how much start up capital is required, but in particular who is entitled to take decisions and who is liable for any wrong decisions. It determines how capital is raised, how flexible the ownership structure is, the tax burden and the management of the company.Formation as an individual or as a teamA particularly important factor in choosing the legal form is whether the founder wishes to set up alone or as part of a team. For individual founders, possible legal forms include sole proprietorship, that is, simple registration as a business or registration as a commercial business and certain corporate forms such as the single member GmbH, single member entrepreneurial company and single member stock corporation. For team formations, in addition to a corporate form, a partnership can also be considered, because the formation of partnerships always requires at least two partners.Partnership or corporationWhat is the general difference between forming a corporation and forming a partnership. In corporate law, corporations are characterised by limited liability. The shareholder is only liable up to a certain contribution of capital and not with his private assets. This makes the corporate form very attractive for many founders.Corporations are also legal persons, which means that, to some extent, they can act in place of the founders. A limited liability company, for example, can enter into contracts through its managing director. Corporations include in particular the GmbH, the entrepreneurial company and the stock corporation.Unlike corporations, partnerships are not legal persons and therefore have no legal personality of their own. They are, however, partly similar and can hold collective assets and have certain rights and obligations of their own. In partnerships, a capital contribution is not required, although it is common. The partners usually work personally in the business and are personally liable with their own assets. Partnerships include, for example, the civil law partnership, the limited partnership and the general partnership.Which legal form is the right oneAs a general rule there is no ideal legal form. The ideal legal form depends on the specific case. Each company must therefore find the legal form that is ideal for it, depending on the existing conditions and the objectives it wishes to pursue. As a lawyer for corporate law, business law and labour law, attorney at law Hans Jörg Briest will be pleased to advise you on the choice of the appropriate legal form, draft a partnership agreement with you and support you even after formation in order to answer further legal questions, including economic issues.

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