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Pet-Sitting: Starting as Freelancers?

Frage

Me and my sister are going to set up a small business in Germany. We are considering to work as pet-sitters in the beginning - then have a business. Pet-sitting is not a liberal profession (I guess). We have experience, but we are not educated in this subject. Anyway, can we start as freelancers paying taxes and being registered under an address and then - a few months later - set up a business? Is there anything we have to remember to do as freelancers? Is this freelancer period included in the retirement?

Antwort

Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in setting up a business in Germany.

Make it in Germany provides international professionals with information on working and living in Germany. Detailed information on setting up a business are also available on “Make it in Germany”.

First of all, as a citizen of the European Union you are free to start up your own business. In Germany, there are two ways of setting up a business: You are either self-employed (“Gewerbetreibender”), or you are a freelancer (“Freiberufler”). You do not get a choice in this matter - it depends on your profession. Being self-employed or a freelancer makes a difference with regard to certain formalities and has an impact on your company’s legal structure. Read more about the two ways of setting up a business.

Germany supports entrepreneurs with a number of funding programmes. Most of these funding programmes consist of public loans, which offer you better conditions with regard to their interest, loan periods and repayment terms. In order to apply for such funding, your place of residence and your company’s operations must be located in Germany. On “Make it in Germany” you will find more information on financing and funding.

Besides, there are many public information centres, which will give advice as you set up your own business. On the Startup Portal under “advice and information” you will find the contact information of regional and national information centres for entrepreneurs with a migrant background. A general contact list is available on the Startup Portal.

* Please note:
The information presented here is a general service offering. Only the German missions and the foreigners’ authorities are responsible for the issuance of visa resp. residence permits. For further questions, please contact directly the respective authority.

Reference: Justina Godesberg
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Internet: www.make-it-in-germany.com
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
Januar 2020

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