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+49 921 957 430 37 · kontakt@puels.legal
5.0 on ProvenExpert 9 Specialists Reply within 24h 2 Bavarian Offices
Founders

Found a company. Properly.

Legal form, articles, tax, contracts – the choices you make on day one shape your tax burden, liability and saleability for years to come.

14 inquiries this week
Jonas Püls
9 specialists ready to take your case — usually responding within hours.

We support you with

  • Choice of legal form (GmbH, UG, holding, GbR)
  • Shareholder agreement & incorporation documents
  • Founder liability & compliance
  • Tax-optimised structure from day one
  • Employment & managing-director contracts
  • Investor readiness (vesting, SAFE, options)
The most common mistake

The wrong structure is hard to fix later.

Founders who only watch notary fees often pay a multiple later in tax, restructuring effort and lost optionality. We incorporate with the exit in mind.

01

Strategic groundwork

Business model, scaling targets, potential investors or exit – before we recommend a legal form, we understand where you want to go.

02

Structure & incorporation

We set up GmbHs, holdings or hybrid structures – with articles of association, shareholder agreement and tax planning, all from one source.

03

Operations & growth

Once incorporated: ongoing tax and legal advisory, contracts with customers, employees and investors – all under one roof.

Startup advisory
Who we work with

Founders with ambition.

Whether tech startup, agency, trades business or freelancer – we work with founders who want to build their company professionally from the start.

  • Tech startups with VC perspective (holding, cap table, vesting)
  • Agencies & service businesses with scaling targets
  • E-commerce & D2C with international ambitions
  • Freelancers moving to a GmbH
How we work with you

Six steps to your own GmbH.

A clear process linking business model, law, tax and operational setup – without delays between disciplines.

01 · Business model check

We challenge your model from a legal and tax perspective. Permit requirements, commercial conditions, scaling risks – before you sign a notarial agreement.

02 · Choice of legal form

UG, GmbH, GmbH & Co. KG or holding? We compare liability, tax burden, effort and external perception – and recommend the form that supports your growth plans.

03 · Shareholder agreement

Not the standard notary template. We draft articles, vesting, pre-emption rights, bad-leaver clauses – so conflicts later don't endanger success.

04 · Notary & commercial register

We coordinate the notary appointment, commercial register filing, trade registration and chamber of commerce entry. You get a complete package – not 5 different contacts.

05 · Bank account & tax number

Business account opening, tax number application, VAT ID, transparency register – we handle all administrative steps and shorten the wait.

06 · Bookkeeping & strategy

From day 1 with DATEV or Lexoffice, clearly documented. Plus: annual strategy meetings on tax optimisation, holding setup, employee participation models.

Frequently asked questions

What founders want to know before engaging us.

How long does a GmbH formation take?
From the first advisory meeting to the registered company: typically 3–4 weeks. Accelerated cash formation is possible in 1–2 weeks. With contribution in kind or complex shareholder structures it takes 4–8 weeks.
What does startup advisory cost?
We offer fixed-price packages – e.g. standard GmbH formation including articles and full guidance. Complex setups (holding, contribution in kind, foreign shareholders) under fee agreement. First call free, with a clear order-of-magnitude indication.
UG (limited liability) or GmbH?
UG is possible from € 1 share capital but has a 25 % retention obligation and is often perceived as second-tier by business partners. The GmbH requires € 25,000 (half at formation) and is the standard legal form for established business models. We recommend GmbH from planned annual profits ≥ € 30,000.
Do I need a tax advisor from day 1?
As soon as the GmbH is registered, yes – bookkeeping, payroll (also for the director), VAT pre-registrations are mandatory. Advantage: we offer law AND tax from one source, no friction between attorney and tax advisor.
Can we form online?
Since 2022, online GmbH formation by video conference with a notary is generally possible. We coordinate, check the technical requirements and prepare you for the appointment. In-person notary appointment in Bayreuth or Nuremberg is also available on request.
What about employee participation (ESOP/VSOP)?
We design an ESOP/VSOP clause in the articles from the start, so participation models can later be implemented without structural changes. Tax treatment (lock-up, valuation, employee taxes) is handled together with our in-house tax advisory.
Local presence · Nationwide reach

Startup advisory in Bayreuth and Nuremberg.

We accompany founders in the Upper Franconia / Middle Franconia economic area – with personal contact on-site and digital efficiency for founders all over Germany.

Bayreuth office – Upper Franconia

Our main office on Ritter-von-Eitzenberger-Straße supports founders from Bayreuth, Bamberg, Hof, Coburg, Kulmbach and the entire Upper Franconia region – from the first idea to commercial-register entry. Short paths to chamber of commerce, notary and regional funding programmes. More about the Bayreuth office.

Nuremberg office – Middle Franconia

From our office on Fürther Straße we are present in the region's economic metropolis. Focus: support for tech startups and growth-oriented founders from Nuremberg, Fürth, Erlangen, Schwabach and the metropolitan area – with connections to the investor, incubator and university scene. More about the Nuremberg office.

Your next step

Book your consultation now.

30-minute first call. No commitment, discreet, to the point. You will see immediately how we can move your business forward.