Cost of Starting a Business in Germany: A 2026 Overview
Detailed cost breakdown for starting a business in Germany in 2026, including fees for registration, capital requirements, and office expenses.
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Corrected the Estonia comparison's distribution tax rate from 20% to 22%, and recalculated the German minimum wage figure used in cost estimates.
Before| Corporate tax rate | 23 - 33% | 25.8% | 20% (on distribution) | 12.5% | 21% | Germany's statutory minimum wage is 12.82 EUR per hour as of January 2025. For full-time employees (40 hours per week), this translates to approximately 2,225 EUR gross per month or 26,700 EUR gross per year.
After| Corporate tax rate | 23 - 33% | 25.8% | 22% (on distribution) | 12.5% | 21% | Germany's statutory minimum wage is 13.90 EUR per hour as of January 2026 (raised from 12.82 EUR in 2025). For full-time employees (40 hours per week), this translates to approximately 2,410 EUR gross per month or 28,900 EUR gross per year.
Why: Estonia's distribution tax rate was understated at 20% instead of the correct 22%, and the German minimum wage figures used for cost estimates were a stale prior-year rate rather than the current 2026 rate.
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