Company Formation

DEinternational can support you through your expansion to Germany and Ireland

foreign businesses looking to establish subsidiaries in Ireland

Expand to New Markets

Ireland has always been a hub for company formation within the EU. The country’s flourishing pharmaceutical, financial and IT sectors have attracted a large amount of foreign businesses looking to establish subsidiaries in Ireland. This process has only accelerated in the last three years. Since the UK's decision to exit the EU, a stream of businesses have been moving their headquarters to the Republic of Ireland to maintain uninterrupted access to the EU markets.

Whether you would like to establish your EU headquarters or a subsidiary/branch in Ireland, you will need professional advice on the framework conditions for your involvement in the Irish market. Similarly, if you are an Irish entrepreneur looking to enter the German market, you will need clear and professional answers to all your questions. But how do you find the right contacts?

DEinternational is the Consultancy Wing of the German-Irish Chamber of Commerce with a professional team of tax and legal advisors available to support you through your company formation process. Our team is bilingual, available to give you detailed advice in both German and English. Our colleagues are experienced in forming companies in both Ireland and Germany and promise a fluid transition to your business activities abroad.   

Our Services

We would be happy to advise you on setting-up your business in Ireland. DEinternational has long-standing contacts with competent consultants. From a pool of experts, we select the right contact persons for you. You save the time-consuming search for a tax consultant, an insurance broker and a personnel consultant. We can also put you in touch with banks and a regional business development agency.

We offer:

Company Formation

As part of our company formation service we provide briefing on all necessary documents for incorporation in Germany and Ireland. We also supply you with the necessary forms and overseeing the completion of the documentation and finally we handle the submission of the application to German HR and Irish CRO.
Legal Address

It is available to our clients to register the address of the German-Irish Chamber as the legal address of your company in Ireland. As part of this service we forward all correspondence to you and you receive a designated telephone line for your company at our offices.
Company Secretary 

Our team members can act as your company secretary for businesses established in Ireland. Our advisors dispose of extensive knowledge of Irish company law and they will ensure compliance with all of the organisation’s obligations. Furthermore, they will keep the company’s CRO profile up to date and conduct the company’s AGM. 
Legal Support 

We are also available to provide you with legal support in both countries, we check through your contracts to ensure that the domestic minimum requirements are included. (For further information on employment and commercial agent contracts, please see Law).  
Market Entry Services 

With experience establishing businesses in Germany, our professionals can help you through the process of entering the German market and can support you not only with incorporation, but with completing the appropriate tax registrations too.  

If you are considering a cross border expansion of your business, please do not hesitate to contact us!

 

Types of Businesses Available in Germany and Ireland

Ireland

• Private Company Limited by Shares (LTD): This company form is the most frequently incorporated entity for businesses in Ireland. They require a minimum of one director, one company secretary and there is no minimum share capital requirement. The maximum number of members in this company form is 149.

• Company Limited by Guarantee: This company formation requires a minimum of seven members and is usually used in circumstances that require a separate legal entity and corporate protection in organisations such as non-for-profits, charities, societies, sport and social clubs.

• Public Limited Company (PLC): This form is used for companies listed on the stock exchange. The liability of members is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on shares held by them. The company’s allotted share capital cannot be less than €25,000 and at least 25% of this must be fully paid up before business commences.

• Limited Partnership: This form consists of general and limited partners. General partner means that the member has unlimited liability for the debts and obligations of the partnership, while a limited partner's liability is restricted to the extent of their contribution.

Germany

• Limited Liability Company (GmbH): This is the most common company formation in Germany. Contrasting with many other EU member states, a minimum capital requirement of €25,000 is attached to this company form. A limited company means that the shareholders’ liability is limited to the amount of their original investment. The day-to-day running of a GmbH is carried out by the Director who is appointed during the general meeting of the shareholders.

• Limited Liability Entrepreneurial Company (Mini GmbH): A Mini-GmbH may be founded with a capital for as little as €1 and is often considered to be the most attractive option for self-employed persons. However, from experience, there have been difficulties in the acceptance of foreign companies choosing this form.

• Joint Stock Company (AG): This is the equivalent of the Irish Public Limited Company. The German AG requires a minimum share capital of €50,000. The management board in this company formation is checked by a supervisory board which is made up of at least three members.

• Limited Partnership (KG): This company is formed by two types of partners, both general partners and limited partners, whereas the limited partner is more of an investor and is liable only for his fixed liability contribution. The general partners have decision-making powers in this company form while the limited partners cannot participate in any of the decisions made.

• Branch: Irish companies can also trade in Germany through a branch office. This is where the branch will stay connected to the company and is generally not a separate legal entity.  A branch usually does not have a separate accounting system to the parent company but has the same tax obligations as a German company.

Reference:

Züblin Ireland Ltd

“Since 2008, the German-Irish Chamber has supported our business in Ireland by helping us complete the process of incorporation and the registration for VAT and corporation tax. We were also grateful for your work that ensured Züblin Ireland’s registration as an employer in the Republic of Ireland.”