Starting a Business in Berlin

20 21 Starting a Business in Berlin A Beginner’s Guide These documents are intended to check whether ls there is a real economic interest or regional need, ls whether the business activities are expected to have a positive impact on the economy, and ls whether the finance for the venture is secured by equity or through a credit commitment. The criteria checked in particular with regard to assessing the aforementioned conditions include the sustainability of the underlying business idea, the entrepreneurial experience of the foreigner, the level of capital investment, the impact on the employment and training situation, and the contribu- tion towards innovation and research. Nevertheless, business operations may not start until the relevant residence permit has been issued. Notifying the authorities Before commencing your business activity, you must notify the regulatory agency (Ordnungsamt) in the district in which it will be based. You must be able to present your identity card or passport as well as any licences that are required. If several people wish to run a business together (as a business partnership), they must all attend together. If giving notifica- tion of a new corporation (GmbH, UG or AG), an extract from the Commercial Register must also be submitted. The tax office, Employers’ Liability Insurance Association, Chamber of Industry and Commerce and/or Chamber of Crafts and Skilled Trades are among the organisations that will be informed of the notification. Although the Employers’ Liabi- lity Insurance Association will normally be informed about the start-up automatically when notification is given, this does not release the businessman from his legal obligation to notify it himself. Article 192, Book VII of the Social Code Video on applying for a residence title to start your own com- pany in Germany: ihk-berlin.de/ non-eu-entrepreneurs Residence permit  bamf.de/en “Aliens Authority”  berlin.de/en Keyword: „foreigners office“ Ambulance service, auction sales, brokerage, capital investment brokerage, car rental, catering establis- hments serving alcohol, coach services, construc- tion support, credit brokerage, debt advisors, debt collection agencies, detective agencies, employment services, estate agencies, fast-food outlets, financial consultancies, financial services, gaming machine installation, housing agency services, insurance brokerage, investment advice, investment brokerage, itinerant trades, labour leasing, land agencies, legal advice, loan brokerage, market trading, organising lotteries, pawnbroking, pest control, podiatrists, pro- perty management, provision of accommodation, road haulage, securities-related services, security work, taxi services, temporary employment agencies, trade in firearms, trade in pesticides, trade in second-hand goods, trade in vertebrates, travel agencies, wholesale pharmaceuticals EXAMPLES OF BUSINESSES REQUIRING CERTIFICATION  Start-ups by foreigners Foreigners who now live in the Federal Republic of Germany or have relocated here and want to work on a self-employed basis need a residence permit that allows them to do so. The application must include a meaningful business concept (bu- siness plan including financial plan, etc.) and be submitted to the relevant authority (immigration authority or German foreign representative agency). CHAPTER 2