Success tips when doing business in Germany in 2024

Before engaging in company registration, there are several points that our Client should know:

1. The Client should prepare a comprehensive business plan which includes i) an extensive market study ii) an evaluation of competitors and iii) a complete feasibility study of the plan;
2. The Client must perform a detailed study of the sector where he/she is planning to setup the business; this will optimize your work productivity;
3. The Client should try and learn German, as it is the lingua franca and therefore important for building a business network;
4. The Client must have a website in the German language to use as an efficient marketing tool;
5. Prior to company incorporation, the Client must have a proper exit strategy in order to map out potential accomplishments for the future. This will help the firm manage its finances efficiently;
6. It is important that the Client communicate with us regarding any problems that he/she faces; our experts regularly help young businesses succeed in foreign countries.

Germany corporate culture tends towards conservatism. To help our Clients to prepare themselves to do business in Germany, these are our suggestions:

1. Always make an appointment; walk-ins will convey informality and will not be well received;
2. Always be punctual for a meeting; deferrals must be avoided whenever possible;
3. You must conduct your own due diligence prior to a meeting. Address people by their professional titles unless specifically asked otherwise;
4. A strict dress code needs to be maintained at all times; dresses must be formal, but not showy;
5. There is a reluctance to take risks in Germany’s business culture; you will be expected to provide substantial information before any consensus is reached;
6. German corporate culture has a deeply entrenched and rigid hierarchy; respect for seniors is the only way to be successful;
7. Gifts should only be exchanged after the successful conclusion of negotiations; if done before, it will be perceived as bribery or flattery;
8. Always inquire about the English-language proficiency of a business man beforehand; where the counterparty’s English skills are lacking, hire an interpreter to increase efficiency;
9. Lastly, it is important to remember that Germany business culture revolves around results; always remember to put your best foot forward.

Interesting facts about Germany

1. Germany has a pluralistic society; it has more than 15 million first and second generation foreigners;
2. German is the official language of 5 countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. German is the 3^rd most commonly taught language worldwide;
3. Germany is famous as the birth place of Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein; today, 102 Germans have received the Nobel Prize for excellence;
4. Great musicians and composers like Beethoven, Johann Bach and Richard Wagner were all Germans;
5. Germany has the most zoos in the world; Berlin zoo is the world’s largest;
6. Germans are the second largest consumer of beer in the world after the Irish;
7. Germans are obsessed with bread; the country has museums that showcase 300 different kinds of bread;
8. Germans love soccer; the country has the highest number of soccer fan clubs in the world;
9. The 1^st Bible was printed by a German (Gutenberg) in the year 1455. Also, the New Testament was written by a German (Martin Luther);
10. There is a Barbie doll made after the German chancellor Angela Merkel;
11. For German kids, it is determined in the 4^th grade if they go to university or, instead, enter the work force directly when they grow up;
12. The Munich Oktoberfest actually starts in September;
13. Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany;
14. Smoking is legal in German public places; no law is passed to stop this because Nazis used to oppose public smoking and no political party wants to support a Nazi conviction.