Founder's guide
🇩🇪Setting up a global company from Germany
German founders: optimize holdings inside the EU; Estonia suits digital founders.
Top jurisdictions for founders from Germany
Key considerations
- EU ATAD CFC rules (Hinzurechnungsbesteuerung) target low-taxed subs; the EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive makes NL/IE/EE holdcos efficient.
- Solo founders often use an Estonia OÜ for fully digital operations.
Informational only — not legal or tax advice.
Recommended structures by business
E-commerce / Amazon · Direct seller structure
🇩🇪 Germany → 🇺🇸 US Wyoming LLC
Trading / Export · Re-invoicing trade structure
🇩🇪 Germany → 🇭🇰 Hong Kong Limited → 🇦🇪 UAE Free Zone Company
Software / SaaS · Two-tier tech structure
🇩🇪 Germany → 🇸🇬 Singapore Pte Ltd → 🇺🇸 US Delaware C-Corp
Manufacturing · The manufacturer's China+1 chain
🇩🇪 Germany → 🇹🇭 Thailand Co., Ltd. → 🇭🇰 Hong Kong Limited → 🇺🇸 US Delaware LLC
Investment / Holding · Family holding structure
🇩🇪 Germany → 🇸🇬 Singapore Pte Ltd → 🇦🇪 UAE Free Zone Company
Services / Consulting · Lean services structure
🇩🇪 Germany → 🇬🇧 UK Limited Company
Real-estate investing · Three-tier property structure
🇩🇪 Germany → 🇸🇬 Singapore Pte Ltd → 🇺🇸 US Wyoming LLC → 🇺🇸 US Florida LLC