Buy a Company in Germany from Canada: Your EU Company, Owned from Home

If you want to buy a company in Germany from Canada, the fastest route is to acquire a clean, ready-made German GmbH and have it transferred to you remotely, without leaving the country. A German company is an EU company, which gives Canadian founders a base inside the European single market to trade, invoice, and clear customs across the continent. Müller Konsult helps Canadian owners buy ready-made German and DACH companies from first call to handover.

To be clear from the outset: this is not buying an operating trading business off a marketplace, it is not a US “aged credit” shelf corporation, and it is not relocating or redomiciling your Canadian corporation. It is acquiring a clean shelf company, a brand-new German entity that has never traded, so you own a usable EU company in days. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice; Canadian tax matters in particular should be confirmed with your own advisers.

Can a Canadian buy and own a company in Germany?

Yes. There is no nationality or residency requirement to own a German GmbH. Under the German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbHG §1), a GmbH can be formed for any lawful purpose by one or more persons, and those persons can live anywhere, including Canada. Canadian citizens and Canadian corporations own German entities every day.

You do not have to move to Germany, and you do not have to give up or move your Canadian company. Most clients own the German entity from Canada and keep their domestic corporation running alongside it, using each where it works best. If you later decide to relocate, Canadians are visa-free-entry nationals who can apply for a German self-employment residence permit (§21 of the Residence Act) from within Germany, but that is a separate choice from owning the company.

Why Canadian founders buy a European company

For most Canadian businesses, an EU entity is the simplest way to operate inside Europe rather than always selling into it from outside. The common reasons we hear are:

• A base inside the EU single market. A German company is an EU company, with standing a Canadian company alone does not have.
• Smoother VAT and customs. An EU base, with a VAT number and an EORI number, removes much of the import, export, and VAT friction Canadian sellers face shipping into Europe.
• An EU counterparty. Many European customers, platforms, and suppliers prefer, or contractually require, an EU-based partner.
• Trade under CETA. The Canada–EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been in force, on a provisional basis, since 21 September 2017, and eliminates duties on 99% of all tariff lines. An EU-incorporated company lets you operate on the inside of that relationship.
• Credibility and continuity. A German address and registration signal a serious, lasting European presence.

The relationship is substantial: Government of Canada figures put two-way merchandise trade with Germany at C$30.5 billion in 2024, up 43% since pre-CETA levels, with Germany Canada’s largest trading partner in the EU. A German company puts you inside that flow.

Buy ready-made, form new, or open a branch: which route?

There are three common ways for a Canadian business to get an EU presence in Germany. They are not equal on speed or independence, and the right one depends on what you are trying to do.

A branch keeps you legally Canadian, which is often the very thing founders are trying to move past when they want an EU entity. A new GmbH is a clean EU entity but takes time to register. A ready-made GmbH gives you that same EU entity, already in the commercial register, so the timeline collapses to the few days needed for the share transfer. For most Canadian buyers in a hurry, that is the practical choice. We also handle company formation in Germany if you prefer to build new.

What you can buy: a German GmbH, UG or a DACH entity

“Buy a company in Germany from Canada” usually means a standard GmbH, but it is not the only option:

• GmbH — the standard German limited liability company, minimum share capital €25,000. The default choice and the focus of GmbH for sale.
• UG (haftungsbeschränkt) — the “mini-GmbH”, which can start with less capital but must build a statutory reserve until it reaches €25,000 (GmbHG §5a). Useful for lighter setups.
• GmbH & Co. KG and AG — partnership and stock-corporation structures for specific tax or investment needs. See types of companies in Germany.

Beyond Germany, the wider DACH region gives you choices, covered next. Canadian e-commerce sellers, in particular, often want a company with a VAT number ready from day one.

Which country: Germany, Austria, or Switzerland?

Germany is the most common pick for Canadian buyers, simply because it is the EU’s largest market and a German GmbH is a well-understood, credible EU entity. But the DACH region gives you real choices:

• Germany (GmbH) — largest EU market, strong banking and supplier base, €25,000 capital, full single-market access.
• Austria (GmbH or FlexCo) — EU member, German-speaking, lower minimum capital (€10,000 since 2024). See buy a GmbH in Austria.
• Switzerland (GmbH or AG) — not in the EU, so it does not give single-market access, but valued for stability and tax; a Swiss company needs a resident director (GmbH capital CHF 20,000).
• Liechtenstein — niche, often used for holding and asset structures.

If your goal is EU single-market access, an EU member entity (Germany or Austria) delivers it; Switzerland and Liechtenstein serve different aims. We compare the three in Germany, Switzerland and Austria for company formation and match the jurisdiction to your purpose rather than pushing one answer.

How to buy a German company from Canada, step by step

The process is built to be completed entirely from Canada, with no need to travel:

1. Free consultation. You tell us your goals, EU access, VAT, banking, and we recommend the entity and jurisdiction that fit.
2. Select and check the company. We propose a clean shelf GmbH and run due diligence to confirm it is debt-free, litigation-free, and current on tax.
3. KYC and AML. Under German anti-money-laundering law (the Geldwäschegesetz), we identify the beneficial owners and incoming managers before completion.
4. Share purchase agreement. We draft and sign the SPA covering the shares and all corporate documents.
5. Notarised share transfer. Ownership passes by notarial act under GmbHG §15, completed remotely from Canada by power of attorney or remote notarisation.
6. Register and beneficial-owner update. The new managing director, shareholders, and registered office are filed with the commercial register, with an updated shareholder list and a transparency-register entry.
7. Banking, VAT, EORI and tax. We arrange the bank account, VAT and EORI registration, confirm the tax number, and set up ongoing compliance.

Completing the purchase remotely (notary, power of attorney, apostille)

You do not need to fly to Germany. German law requires the share transfer to be recorded in notarial form (GmbHG §15), but this can be handled for a Canadian buyer through a power of attorney or, where available, remote notarisation. In practice you sign the documents we prepare, often before a Canadian notary, with an apostille added where needed, and we manage the German notary appointment and filings on your behalf. The cross-border paperwork is routine for us, and we tell you exactly which documents need certification.

The shareholder list and beneficial-owner update

After the transfer, an updated list of shareholders (Gesellschafterliste) is filed with the commercial register; this is what third parties rely on to see who owns the company. Separately, the new beneficial owners are reported to the transparency register (Transparenzregister). We complete both, so your ownership is properly recorded. The wider process is also covered in how to buy a company in Germany as a foreigner.

What you need to provide (KYC and AML)

Because German anti-money-laundering rules apply to every purchase, we will ask you to:

• Identify the ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) with valid passports or ID.
• Provide details of the incoming managing director(s) and shareholders.
• Confirm the planned business activity and company purpose.
• Supply Canadian proof of address, plus corporate documents and the ownership chain if the buyer is a Canadian corporation.
• Show source of funds where the bank requires it, and provide apostilled or certified-translated documents where asked.

We coordinate these checks so the file is complete before the notary appointment, which keeps the timeline tight.

Share capital and legal requirements

The figures behind a German GmbH come straight from the GmbHG, and they are worth knowing before you buy:

• Minimum share capital is €25,000 (GmbHG §5). Each share has a nominal value in full euros.
• Before registration, at least one quarter of each share must be paid in, and the total paid in must be at least €12,500 (GmbHG §7). In a shelf company this is already done.
• The company exists only once entered in the commercial register (GmbHG §11). A ready-made GmbH has already crossed that line.
• Liability is limited — the company’s assets alone discharge its obligations (GmbHG §13), so your personal assets are protected.
• At least one managing director (Geschäftsführer) is required (GmbHG §6); that can be you, from Canada, or a local director.

With a ready-made GmbH the capital is already paid in and verified, so you are not arranging a fresh deposit during the purchase.

Banking, VAT and an EORI number for transatlantic trade

For a Canadian business, the practical Europe pain points are VAT, customs, and banking, and an EU entity is built to solve the first two:

• VAT number. A German VAT number (USt-IdNr) lets your company invoice and trade across the EU. For cross-border B2C sales, the EU One-Stop-Shop (OSS) lets you account for VAT in multiple member states through one registration. German VAT is 19%, with a reduced 7% rate for certain goods and services.
• EORI number. Moving goods between Canada and the EU requires an EORI number for customs. An EU-side company with its own EORI removes a recurring source of friction for Canadian importers and exporters, and pairs well with an import and export company in Germany.
• Banking. Opening a European business bank account as a non-resident takes preparation; it is usually the slowest part of starting up for a Canadian owner. We prepare your banking file properly and, where it suits you, can offer a company with a bank account already in place. A nominee or local director can help satisfy a bank’s requirements, and our guide to opening a business bank account in Germany covers the wider picture.

A company with a VAT number is ready to invoice from day one rather than waiting on a fresh registration.

A Canadian business wanting EU access? Request a free callback with our lawyers, with no commitment. Talk to our team.

What the purchase includes, and what costs extra

Many providers either hide their prices or quote a single “from” figure with no breakdown. We prefer to show the logic. It helps to see the cost as two parts: what is built into every purchase, and the optional extras you choose.

A key point: the share capital is not a fee. It belongs to the company and works in its business once you own it, so a large part of any honest price is simply the capital that ends up yours; the service element is modest by comparison. Pricing is in euros, so allow for the CAD/EUR exchange rate when you budget. For a full breakdown of the cost drivers, see our shelf company cost guide, and contact us for a transparent, all-inclusive quote.

Canadian tax: what to check at home

This is the part where you should involve your own advisers. Owning a German company has Canadian tax consequences that depend on your personal and corporate position. Canadian residents are generally taxed on worldwide income, and Canada and Germany have a double-taxation convention in force that governs how income and withholding are treated between the two countries. On the German side, corporate profits are taxed at an effective rate of roughly 30% (corporation tax, the solidarity surcharge, and municipal trade tax combined); the detail is in our guide to corporate tax in Germany. None of this prevents a Canadian founder from owning a German company; it simply means the Canadian side should be planned alongside the German side. We handle the German and DACH structuring and coordinate with your Canadian accountant or the CRA position your adviser confirms. This is general information, not Canadian tax advice.

What “clean” really means: due diligence

“Clean” and “debt-free” are easy claims to make, so it is worth knowing what stands behind them. Before any purchase we run due diligence on the company’s legal, financial, and tax position to confirm there are no debts, no litigation, no tax arrears, and no hidden obligations. A genuine shelf company has never traded, so there is nothing to inherit, but we verify rather than assume, and we tell you exactly what the record shows. For a cross-border buyer who cannot walk into the register office in person, that verification is the difference between a company described as clean and one proven to be.

Ongoing compliance and after-sale support

Buying the company is the start, not the finish. A German GmbH carries real ongoing obligations that most sellers never mention, and we stay with you for them:

• Bookkeeping and accounting to German standards.
• Annual financial statements and their filing.
• Tax returns — corporate income tax, trade tax, and VAT — and dealings with the tax office.
• Register and transparency-register upkeep whenever ownership or management changes.
• Amendments to the articles, company name, registered office, or activities.
• Legal representation for the company, including acting as liquidator if you ever wind it down.

The aim is to keep your company in good standing in Germany long after handover, with one accountable point of contact in the EU while you are in Canada.

Why buy through a lawyer-led provider

There is no shortage of websites and software platforms selling German companies, and some are little more than checkout pages. For a cross-border purchase from Canada, where the entity will carry real legal and tax weight, who you buy from matters. With Müller Konsult you get legal sourcing grounded in the actual GmbHG sections cited on this page; genuine due diligence so you are not inheriting a hidden problem; transparent pricing rather than a vague “from” figure; cross-border experience handling remote, non-resident purchases; and a named, accountable lawyer with a real Düsseldorf office, not an anonymous form. That combination is the difference between buying a company and buying one safely.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Government of Canada — Canada–Germany relations (CETA, trade figures) — international.gc.ca
• European Commission — EU–Canada agreement (CETA) — policy.trade.ec.europa.eu
• German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbHG), official English text — gesetze-im-internet.de
• German Commercial Register (Handelsregister) — handelsregister.de

Ready to buy your European company from Canada?

Contact Müller Konsult for a clean, ready-made German or DACH company you can own and run from Canada. We assess your goals, recommend the right entity, and complete the purchase remotely. Müller Konsult · Königsallee 27, 40212 Düsseldorf · +49 211 5403 8800 · info@gmbhforsale.com · Request a callback

Reviewed by Stefan Stelthove, Corporate & Commercial Lawyer, Müller Konsult. Last updated 7 June 2026. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.

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