Starting a business in Munich

The number of newly founded companies rose significantly in 2025 - by 8 % nationwide in the commercial sector alone.^* Added to this are the liberal professions, whose share of all self-employed individuals has already risen to 40 %.^**

This positive trend is continuing in Munich at the start of the year—which, based on experience, is a good indicator of the startup momentum for the coming months.

The rule of thumb is: solid startup knowledge ensures good starting conditions. This is a great opportunity to introduce the Munich Startup Office and its work at munich business.

The Munich Startup Office offers a cross-sector, free, and multilingual service for anyone in Munich interested in starting a business and planning to become self-employed.

When starting a business, you may choose to operate a trade or a freelance profession as a primary or secondary occupation—the Startup Office supports a wide range of options. The only exception is startups in the skilled trades sector, which are handled by the Chamber of Skilled Trades.
 

Up-to-date, systematic, and flexible basic information

As a small team, the Munich Startup Office has deliberately structured its support services for maximum efficiency. Years of experience show that founders typically start out with similar questions. These include registering with the Trade Licensing Office and the Tax Office, determining whether their business qualifies as a trade or a liberal profession, and drafting an initial business plan. The Munich Start-up Office provides all the key answers in the “Basic Knowledge” section or under “What do I need to take care of?”

To get up to speed quickly, founders can choose to work through a 10-point checklist on gruenden-muenchen.de, watch short explanatory videos, consult the chatbot around the clock, and use a qualified business plan template.

Following these introductory sessions, which provide a general overview, the Startup Office offers regular webinars. The two-hour online information session “Starting a Business Successfully – What Can I Expect?” (in German) provides a concise overview of all key startup topics. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. The information sessions take place monthly; approximately once a quarter, there is also a webinar in English. Spontaneous questions can be asked here via chat, and participants often use the chat to network with one another.

For founders in Munich who have further, specific questions, the Start-up Office offers one-hour consultations. It is important to fill out the appointment form completely and in detail so that the consultant can get a clear picture of your situation and prepare useful information. 
 

Networks and Contacts

As your startup plan takes shape, the local startup ecosystem becomes increasingly important: Which networks are helpful, and which events can help you stay abreast of current trends and gain expertise? Who can you turn to for help with various challenges? Or, have I considered everything that’s relevant to my industry for my project?

The Startup Office has detailed and very helpful overviews available here: for example, the Networks page, the overview of contacts, or twelve specific industry guides. After all, the Munich ecosystem actually offers something suitable for almost everyone—ranging from accelerators and competitions to financing advice, guidance on venture capital, or business angels. In addition, there is a curated list of events featuring offerings from chambers of commerce, associations, organizations, universities, and institutions.
 

Multiple languages, clear structure

The Munich Startup Office offers webinars and information in multiple languages, as nearly half of Munich’s residents have an immigrant background, and many find multilingual information—and especially the webinar “How to Start a Business?”—helpful in better understanding the necessary processes and formalities. The response shows that these services are also popular and used consistently.

The Start-up Office regularly solicits feedback, and it is precisely the clear structure of the offerings—which build upon one another—that ensures clarity, targeted support, and satisfied customers.

How about taking the leap into self-employment? Here’s how to get started quickly:

I want to register a business. How do I do that, and what documents do I need?

You can register your business—whether small or large, as a primary or secondary source of income—online with the Munich Trade Licensing Office. You can find the documents you need to register a business in the “Required Documents” section here.

Remember that you must also register your self-employment with the tax office and the employers’ liability insurance association for statutory accident insurance.

How do I register with the tax office?

You register your self-employment online with the Munich Tax Office. 
Once you have registered on the ELSTER portal, fill out the appropriate questionnaire for tax registration. Alternatively, you can also complete the questionnaire using tax software that supports this feature.

How do I register a liberal profession in Munich?

First, check whether your self-employment actually qualifies as a liberal profession or is, in fact, a trade. There are many misunderstandings here! 
You can reach the experts on this at the Institute for Liberal Professions. Then register your freelance work with the tax office accordingly.

Where can I find a good business plan template, and what should I keep in mind?

The business plan consists of a text section and a financial section. Use our free templates. 
You write a business plan primarily for yourself, but also for business and collaboration partners, as well as investors. It helps you plan in a structured way and successfully carry out your project.

^* Statistisches Bundesamt: Pressemitteilung Nr. 074 vom 6. März 2026

und Next Generation Startup-Neugründungen in Deutschland 2025. Startupverband und startupdetector

** Bundesverband der Freien Berufe e.V.