Starting a Business in Berlin

82 83 Starting a Business in Berlin A Beginner’s Guide Legal protection insurance This insurance covers the costs of legal disputes with third parties. You should consider whether you require legal pro- tection for cases involving transport, compensation, or the criminal, employment or social courts. The right policy for you will depend very much on the business risks involved, so you should review your needs accordingly. Business interruption insurance If your business is forced to shut down temporarily because of specific events or damage (water damage, fire, etc.), this insurance will, within certain limits, bear the costs of conti- nuing to operate and provide compensation for lost profits. Social insurance for employees Social insurance for employees comprises unemployment, health, accident, pension and nursing care insurance. As an employer, it is your responsibility to notify their health insurance fund immediately when you employ a member of staff. It will then notify the employment office and pension provider in turn. Accident insurance offers the employee financial security in the case of accidents at work or whilst commuting. This insurance is provided by the relevant em- ployer’s liability insurance association. All of the contribu- tions are paid by the employer, who must notify the emplo- yer’s liability insurance association within one week of the employee’s recruitment. Short-term employees and those in ‘mini-jobs’ must be registered with the ‘mini-job’ centre. CHAPTER 7