Buy a Shelf Company in Germany in 2026

Foreign investors have two possibilities for establishing a company in Germany: by incorporating a new business or by purchasing a shelf company with the help of our local agents. Below, our team of agents who specialize in starting companies in Germany answers some of the common questions about this company and highlights its main advantages in 2026.

Shelf GmbH with bank account from EUR 5,150

State fees and the lawyer’s or service provider’s fee apply.

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Quick Facts
Legal entities available for shelf company	Limited liability companies, private (GmbH) and public (AG)
Time required for purchasing the company	A few days
Types of features it includes (corporate bank account, VAT number, etc)	Trading name, legal address, Articles of Association, director, tax identification number
The advantages of a shelf company	Easy acquisitions, availability of various legal entities, easiness in opening bank account (approx. 4 weeks)
Appointing new directors (yes/no)	YES, recommended
Capital increase allowed (yes/no)	YES
Certificate of no commercial activities (yes/no)	NO
Modify the objects of activity (yes/no)	YES
Participants in the purchase procedure	Seller and buyer or legal representative
The cost of buying a shelf company	Costs depend on the type of company and age
Legislation applicable	German Commercial Code
Possibility to amend company name (YES/NO)	Yes, it is possible to change a shelf company’s trading name.
Special purchase requirements for non-EU investors (YES/NO)	No, there are no specific conditions for non-EU businesspersons acquiring ready-made companies.
Common legal forms of shelf companies	The private limited liability company (GmbH) is the most popular type of company sold in Germany.
Due diligence requirements (YES/NO)	No, but they are recommended in the case of companies with operating activities.
Possibility to obtain special licenses (YES/NO)	Yes, it is possible to obtain licenses for certain activities.
Restrictions in using a shelf company (if any)	No
Possibility to buy shelf companies online (YES/NO)	Yes, it is possible to buy a shelf company online.
Possibility to access loans through such entities	Yes, it is possible to obtain financing through a ready-made company that has a history.
Support in buying a ready-made company in Germany (YES/NO)	Yes, we can assist in buying a German shelf company.
Uses of ready-made companies in Germany	– possibility of incorporating an existing company’s history in a new one, – accessing government grants/subsidies, – entering private-public partnerships.
Risks associated with buying shelf companies	The company must be verified if it meets all the legal operational conditions and if it is free of debts.
Special tax regime available (YES/NO)	No, shelf companies are not subject to special tax regimes.
Taxation of shelf companies	The corporate tax applicable at the 15% rate plus a 5.5% surcharge.
Possibility to hire employees (YES/NO)	Yes, it can hire German and/or foreign employees.
Sectors of activities in which shelf companies can be used	Shelf companies can be used in trading, commercial, retail, healthcare, IT sectors.
Availability of nominee services with a shelf company (YES/NO)	No.
Types of shelf companies available	LLC based on the time of incorporation: some can be newer, others can be aged.
Possibility to change the legal address (YES/NO)	Yes.
Requirement to amend the Articles of Association (YES/NO)	Yes, the Articles of Association must be amended with all the changes made to the company.
Notification requirements (YES/NO)	Yes, with the German Commercial Register.
Do shelf companies have VAT numbers? (YES/NO)	Some of them can have VAT numbers.
Possibility to obtain a VAT number if the chosen business does not have one? (YES/NO)	Yes.
Possibility to change the legal form of the purchased entity (YES/NO)	Yes, through a change of legal form under the Transformation Act (e.g. a UG becomes a GmbH by increasing its share capital to EUR 25,000).
Requirement to obtain new Registration Certificate (YES/NO)	Yes, after making the necessary amendments.

What should I know about ready-made companies in Germany?

They are entities that have been registered and properly maintained from an accounting point of view, without having any commercial activity. They usually have all the required characteristics of any other business (shareholder, director, legal address, tax identification code). Some of them are also registered for VAT and have bank accounts.

What are the steps to buy a ready-made company in Germany?

Here is a procedure guide for buying a shelf company in Germany in 2026:

research the available service providers in the area you are interested in launching your business;
decide on the company and make the necessary due diligence checks (our specialists can assist you);
travel to Germany or appoint our local agents to represent you (we will draft the power of attorney).

What are the documents that I need to provide for the purchase?

You only need a valid identification paper: ID or passport. If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, preferably the passport. Also, if you want to travel here, you also need an entry visa.

What are the main features of shelf companies in Germany?

Upon purchase, a German ready-made company will have:

a trading name which is mandatory when registering any legal form;
a legal address, which is another mandatory requirement for any company;
a corporate bank account, where the share capital was deposited;
a tax identification number;
a VAT number (however, this is optional, meaning that you can find shelf companies with or without such a number)
a company director, which is mandatory under the law.

Here is an infographic on this subject:

What are the documents a German shelf company comes with?

Here is what your business entity will be accompanied by in terms of documents:

the Certificate of Registration in original;
the Memorandum (where available) and Articles of Association in original;
the tax identification number.

What are the types of shelf companies I can choose from in Germany?

You can choose between:

private and public limited liability companies (the private one is more common);
newly incorporated and aged companies (in the case of the latter, you can find entities that are 2 or 3 years old).

How important is the age of a ready-made company?

Age is important when you want to enter a private-public partnership or want to apply for a loan. In these cases, we recommend buying an aged company, which is at least 3 years old. For commercial activities, you can buy a newly registered one. So, yes, the age is important in the context of what you plan to use it for.

Are there any restrictions related to the use of a shelf company?

No, there are no restrictions, as you can use it for any commercial or industrial purposes.

How long does it take to buy a shelf company in Germany in 2026?

The purchase procedure can take a few days – one to two, depending on how soon the transfer document is ready. To speed things up, we recommend booking an appointment with a notary in advance.

You can also watch our video below:

How much does it cost to buy a shelf company in Germany?

With respect to acquiring a German shelf company, there are a few aspects that will interest you cost-wise. These are:

the age of the company – the older it is, the higher its price will be;
the features it has also contribute to a higher cost;
the type of entity will also attract a higher or lower price.

Why should I purchase an already-made company in Germany?

A German shelf company offers the following benefits:

Faster engagement: the owner of the company will be able to engage in business activities much quicker than when starting a company from zero.
Credibility: one of the top advantages of a shelf company is that its seniority offers more credibility to other business partners and even banks, for credit purposes.
Customization: our specialists in company formation in Germany can help customize the company according to the client’s needs.
Saved time: the company owner will not need to invest much time in the transfer process, compared to when he would have to open an entirely new company.

What are the uses of a shelf company in Germany?

Here are the main uses of a shelf company in Germany:

for relocating a business from another country to Germany and incorporating the history of the former company into the German one;
for obtaining financing from German banks, which usually do background checks;
for entering private-public partnerships with government-owned enterprises and carrying out various projects.

If you are interested in buying a ready-made company in Germany, our team can help you, so do not hesitate to contact us.