GBCORP · BUY-SELL BUSINESS · GERMANY
Buy or Sell a Business in Germany
GBCORP sells and buys owner-run and Mittelstand companies across Germany, in transactions up to USD 20 million. We run each deal from valuation to the notary’s signature, in German or English, with our local partner network of notaries, lawyers and tax advisers.
Why Germany, and why now
Germany is Europe’s largest economy, and much of it is the Mittelstand: family-owned manufacturers, engineering firms, wholesalers and service companies that lead their niche. A generation of these owners is now reaching retirement, and many have no family successor. That makes Germany one of the deepest markets in Europe for well-run companies with loyal customers and long trading records.
For a foreign company, buying a German business is often the fastest way to sell B2B in Germany. You gain a German legal entity, a VAT registration, trained staff, certifications and customer relationships on day one, instead of building them over years.
Before you start, read our guide to what to consider when you buy or sell a business in Germany.
Selling your German company
For founders and families who want the right buyer, a defensible price and a calm handover.
Valuation you can defend
A market-tested valuation built on normalised earnings, so the asking price survives the buyer’s due diligence.
Succession planning
A handover plan for founders and families: timing, your role after the sale, and how staff and customers are told.
Confidential marketing
An anonymous profile goes to screened buyers first; your company’s name is shared only under a signed NDA.
Share or asset deal
We model both structures, so you see what you keep after tax before you choose.
Buying a business in Germany
For entrepreneurs, investors and foreign companies looking for an established German business.
Deal sourcing
Owner-run and Mittelstand companies, including off-market opportunities from our partner network.
Due diligence
Financial, tax, legal and commercial checks, coordinated with German lawyers and tax advisers.
Investment screening
We assess at the start whether your acquisition needs government clearance, and plan the timetable around it.
Market entry by acquisition
For foreign companies: buy an operating German business instead of building a subsidiary from scratch.
How a German deal runs with GBCORP
Six stages, one point of contact. Most sales close in six to twelve months.
01 · Valuation and preparation
We review three years of accounts, normalise earnings and prepare the sale documents.
02 · Confidential approach
An anonymous teaser, then an information memorandum to screened buyers under NDA.
03 · Offers and letter of intent
We compare offers on price, structure and certainty, then agree heads of terms.
04 · Due diligence
The buyer’s advisers review finance, tax, legal and HR through an organised data room.
05 · Notarised signing
A GmbH share purchase agreement is signed before a German notary, as the law requires.
06 · Closing and handover
The price is paid, the commercial register is updated, and staff and customers are introduced.
German rules that shape the deal
The points that decide structure, timing and cost in a German transaction.
- Notarisation. Selling GmbH shares needs a notarial deed, and the notary then files the new shareholder list with the commercial register.
- Staff in asset deals. Employees of the business pass to the buyer automatically on their existing terms; they must be informed in writing and may object.
- Real estate transfer tax. If the company owns German property, transferring 90% or more of its shares can trigger real estate transfer tax of 3.5% to 6.5%, depending on the federal state.
- Investment screening. Buyers from outside the EU and EFTA acquiring 25% or more of a German company, or 10% in sensitive sectors such as defence and critical infrastructure, may need federal clearance before closing.
- Transparency register. The new beneficial owners are recorded in Germany’s transparency register after closing.
- Tax structure. Share deals are usually more tax-efficient for the seller; asset deals let the buyer depreciate what it buys. We model both.
Local partners, one point of contact
GBCORP runs each German deal end to end and works with our local partner network: notaries, M&A lawyers and tax advisers across Germany. We work with owners and buyers in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf and the regions.
We speak your language. Our advisors work in German and English, so owners, families and buyers are never lost in translation. We handle transactions up to USD 20 million; fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request.
Questions about buying and selling in Germany
The questions we hear first, answered plainly.
How long does it take to sell a business in Germany?
Most owner-run and Mittelstand sales take six to twelve months from valuation to closing. Preparation, finding the right buyer and due diligence take most of that time; the notarised signing itself is a single appointment.
Do I need a notary to buy a German GmbH?
Yes. A transfer of GmbH shares, and the agreement that obliges it, must be recorded by a German notary. An asset deal needs a notary only when real estate or certain other assets are included.
Can a foreign buyer acquire a company in Germany?
Yes. Germany is open to foreign buyers. Investors from outside the EU and EFTA may need federal clearance when they acquire 25% or more of a German company, or 10% in sensitive sectors. We check this at the start, so it never delays closing.
Share deal or asset deal: which is better?
It depends on which side you are on. Sellers usually prefer a share deal, which is often more tax-efficient and transfers the whole company in one step. Buyers often prefer an asset deal, which lets them choose what they take and depreciate it. We model both before you negotiate.
What size of business does GBCORP handle in Germany, and what does it cost?
We advise on transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run companies to established Mittelstand firms. Fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request after a confidential first conversation.
Guides to buying or selling a business in Germany
Start with our Germany guide, then the essentials every buyer and seller should read.
Nearby markets and deal flow
Cross-border buyers often compare neighbouring markets. Each one has its own local advisory page.
Talk to our team
Considering buying or selling a business in Germany? Reach out for a confidential first conversation.
