Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie and harbour at dusk
Official Türkiye Representative for Hamburg & Schleswig-Holstein Investment Agencies

Company Formation and
Market Entry Advisory for Germany

I'm the only person in Türkiye representing the investment agencies of both Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. With 15 years as Director of the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce's Izmir Office, I'm at your side from the very first question to the first German address you call your own.

Hamburg's investment agency (Hamburg Invest) — Official Türkiye Representative Direct corporate access to Germany's leading port city View official Hamburg Invest profile →
Schleswig-Holstein's investment agency (WTSH) — Official Türkiye Representative North Germany's rising investment region
Start the Company Formation Guide → Free First Call
Official representations:
15
years at the German-Turkish
Chamber of Commerce
2
official German
state representations
1
the sole representative in Türkiye
holding both mandates
3
languages · Turkish,
German, English
Interactive guide · Free

Plan your German company setup in
5 minutes
.

See your personalised GmbH-setup timeline, conflicting choices and the duration of each step in this interactive guide. At the end you receive a customised PDF report by email.

Open the formation guide →
≈ 5 minutes · 6 steps · Turkish / English
The process

Company formation in Germany
in six steps

How long each step takes depends on your situation. The calculator adapts the logic below to your choices.

  1. 01

    The residence-permit decision

    You do not need to live in Germany: you can found the company from abroad and be its shareholder and managing director. If you want to relocate, the §21 entrepreneur visa comes after the company exists.

    Test your situation in 5 minutes →
  2. 02

    Shareholder structure and director

    Will your existing company hold the shares, or you personally? Will the managing director run it from abroad? These two decisions set the tax route, how banks treat you and your visa options.

    Read the guide →
  3. 03

    Articles: name, capital, address

    A GmbH needs €25,000 share capital — not a cost but the company's own cash, half of it at formation. The registered address is where official mail lands; choose virtual offices carefully.

    What it really costs →
  4. 04

    The notary appointment

    The articles are signed before a German notary. Attending from abroad needs a power of attorney, apostille and sworn translation — run in parallel, that chain takes about a week.

    Step-by-step timeline →
  5. 05

    The business bank account

    The most variable step of all: about a week with someone who knows which bank says yes, weeks or even months on your own. German banks have tightened KYC for foreign-founded companies.

    Realistic durations →
  6. 06

    Commercial register and tax number

    Registration takes 1–3 weeks, but your real day one is when the tax number arrives. From the notary to being able to invoice: realistically 4–8 weeks.

    Build your own timeline →
About

Official mandate,
corporate experience

My understanding of Germany comes from experience, not textbooks. I was born and raised in Cologne. Germany isn't a target market for me — it's the country I grew up in. I lived its language, its culture, and its way of doing business first-hand. After studying economics at the University of Kansas in the US, I moved to Türkiye and built my career between exactly these two worlds.

For 15 years I worked at the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK). Over those years I stood beside hundreds of companies as they entered and grew in new markets — both strategically and operationally. From finding the right business partners and sitting across from public officials, to navigating customs, tax and legal frameworks — always in the room, never from a distance.

Since 2022 I've been the official representative of Hamburg Invest in Türkiye, and since 2025 of WTSH, the investment agency of Schleswig-Holstein. As the only person in Türkiye representing both institutions simultaneously, I offer you not just information but direct corporate access.

If you want to expand into Germany, I'm your point of contact.

Ünal Eren at a café in Hamburg, with the Hamburg Rathaus in the background
Ünal Eren International Business Advisor
15
German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce — Izmir Office Director
Fifteen years as the corporate voice of German business in Türkiye. Bridge for hundreds of German-Turkish business relationships, with operational consulting under the DEinternational programme.
HH
Hamburg Invest — Türkiye Representative
Since 2022, the official and sole point of contact for Turkish companies looking to invest in Germany's largest port city.
S-H
Schleswig-Holstein — Türkiye Representative
Since 2025, the official Türkiye representative of the North-German state that leads in renewable energy, maritime industries and machine manufacturing.
Services

Five areas.
One goal.

Every engagement ends with a concrete deliverable.

01
Company formation in Germany

GmbH, UG or branch office — which structure is right for you? Hamburg Invest and WTSH's institutional knowledge and local networks are with you at every step of the formation process. From choosing the right structure to the notary appointment, from commercial register filing to opening a bank account — we plan it together.

Free Consultation
02
Residence permit & Blue Card

The company is set up — but what about your legal right to be in Germany? Does §21 Founder Visa or §18g Blue Card fit your situation? Through Hamburg Invest and WTSH's official channels, we strengthen your application during the Türkiye-side process.

Free Consultation
03
Location & investment incentives

Hamburg or Schleswig-Holstein? We identify the right region based on your sector, budget and growth plan. Through Hamburg Invest and WTSH's local networks, we directly research office, warehouse and production facility options, rental terms and government incentives.

Free Consultation
04
Corporate network & direct access

We provide access to IHKs, industry associations and investment promotion agencies through Hamburg Invest and WTSH's official channels. Meeting the right person at the right time can launch your first contracts in days, not weeks.

Free Consultation
05
Company acquisition in Germany

Instead of starting from scratch, acquiring an established German company — with its existing customer base, trained workforce and established market position. Hamburg Invest and WTSH's first-orientation service for the succession process, alongside chambers of commerce (IHK) and the official succession exchanges. We assess opportunities matching your sector and budget together.

Free Consultation
The Elbphilharmonie and Speicherstadt on the river Elbe, Hamburg
Hamburg · Elbe
Regions I represent

Two doors into
North Germany

As the only advisor in Türkiye representing both regions simultaneously, we identify the location that truly fits your business together.

Germany — North
Hamburg

The economic heart of Northern Europe. Germany's largest port and one of the EU's most dynamic metropolitan areas — an ideal base for companies in logistics, technology and international trade.

LogisticsTechnologyInternational tradeFinance
Port connectivity800+ ports worldwide
LocationNorthern Europe hub
EU market accessSingle market
Official Türkiye Representative
Visit Hamburg Invest →
Germany — North
Schleswig-Holstein

Just north of Hamburg, Germany's renewable-energy capital. Strong infrastructure in maritime tech and machine manufacturing, with a leading food industry sector — 15% of regional revenue. Easy access to EU funds, competitive costs.

RenewablesMaritimeManufacturingFood
Energy generation160% of consumption is renewable
Maritime sector2,100+ companies, 40,000 employees
LocationAdjacent to Hamburg
Official Türkiye Representative
Visit WTSH →
Blog

Latest guides on
doing business in Germany

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Contact

One call.
Free. No obligation.

If you're considering expansion into Germany, the first step is a discovery call. I assess your project and clarify which region and structure best suit your goals. In Turkish, German and English.

Message me on WhatsApp today — I reply within 24 hours.
WhatsApp
+90 536 580 8679
Email
unal@eren.consulting
LinkedIn
Ünal Eren

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