GoKawiilI started founding my second company in Germany in late January. It is now late June.
In that time, the state, two courts, a notary, a law firm, a tax firm, and software vendors have all found a way to bill me. Every single one of them, on time.
I have spent more than 9,600 euros to start a company: a little over 7,600 in fees and bills, plus 2,000 in share capital frozen in an account I am not allowed to touch. And after five months, here is what I have to show for it:
I have not been able to send a single invoice of my own.
Not one.
The work is happening. The clients are real. The one thing the state exists to let me do, bill them cleanly, is the one thing I still can’t.
The timeline
Jan 23 First call with a law firm to set up the company. The clock and the hourly billing start. Feb 5 I sign the mandate and send my ID. Drafting begins. Feb 18 The structure is set: PlentyLabs UG & Co. KG, technically two companies. The name is a saga of its own. about 1 month of drafting Mar 6 Incorporation documents ready. Mar 17 Documents approved. The hunt for a notary begins. 7 days for the appointment Mar 24 Notary in Berlin reads the deeds aloud and certifies that I am who I say I am. €1,575.24 Notary fees Mar 25 I pay in €2,000.00 of share capital. Money I cannot touch; it has to stay there. €2,000.00 Locked, not a fee Mar 26 The register court demands a fee advance. €300.00 Court advance 17 days after the notary Apr 10 First company entered in the commercial register. 1 week more Apr 17 Second company entered. €260.00 Register, 200 + 60 Apr 20 I ask the firm I already pay to handle the tax registration too. 2.5 weeks just to start May 6 Before the tax work can begin, a fresh engagement is required: proposal, power of attorney, ID checks, per company. €630.00 Tax registration quote May 28 The incorporation legal bill lands. €4,462.50 Legal fees May 29 Tax questionnaires submitted. I request standard VAT and a VAT ID, urgently. Jun 3 First bill from the accounting software. €426.97 Accounting software Jun 9 I am told the VAT ID will arrive by post. A letter. Jun 24 today Seven weeks since the tax firm, almost four weeks since the questionnaires. No VAT ID. No invoice sent. Billed by everyone else €7,654.71 Share capital I cannot touch €2,000.00 Total gone €9,654.71 Invoices I have managed to send 0
Everyone in this story could invoice me. I am the only one who can’t invoice anyone.
“But you can invoice your German clients”
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