Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany, the fourth largest economy in the world, and has an excellent infrastructure to promote innovative projects. With Europe's third largest seaport, an active airport and a prime location at the crossroads between Scandinavia and Central Europe, Hamburg remains an innovation hub for making business.
Successful business made in Hamburg
Hamburg is a major international trade, transport and services hub and one of the most important locations for industry in Germany. Global players such as Airbus, Beiersdorf (Nivea), HapagLloyd, Montblanc, Otto and Tchibo are located here.
Tradition meets innovation
Hamburg is an attractive location for growing startups: comprising 96,000 businesses, the services sector is Hamburg’s strongest industry. With a share of approx. 34%, the information and communication segment, including leading advertising and online marketing companies such as Facebook, Facelift, Google, Smaato and Twitter, is particularly important.
Quotes
Sowmya Thyagarajan
Founder of Foviatech
Angela Relógio
Founder of TimeTeller
Noah Raissi
CEO & Founder of Rukki
Daniela Arango
CPO Lignopure
Sanchit Bhavsar
CEO & Co-Founder at S2SDYNAMICS
City of networks and opportunities
In recent years, the city has cultivated a supportive and inclusive business environment. Startups and scaleups come together in Hamburg and take advantage of the city's rich resources and well-established networks: Various consulting providers, research institutions and cluster initiatives support young companies in building a strong network right from the beginning. Startups can also benefit from a wide range of funding programmes and financing offers.
Scaleup Hamburg, a service offer by Hamburg Invest, seeks to future-proof local businesses by forging partnerships with cutting-edge international Greentech scaleups in order to accelerate the technology uptake in our city. As part of the business development agency of Hamburg, we support international scaleups with our hands-on approach and dedicated professional service which focuses on a successful startup-corporate collaboration.
Why Hamburg? With its strategic location as Germany's hub for mobility, logistics, and renewable energy, Hamburg offers unparalleled opportunities for scaleups to thrive. Its vibrant ecosystem, coupled with robust infrastructure and supportive policies, makes it an ideal destination for companies looking to expand their footprint in Europe.
Quotes
Tulika Raj
CEO SunGreenH2
Antoine Welter
CEO & Co-Founder of Circu Li-ion
Andrew Woo Schill
Vp of GTM Strategy at MicroSec
Belén Moreno
Account Executive of HySiLabs
Have you founded a company abroad and are now interested in setting up in Hamburg? Or are you planning to establish a startup in Hamburg and want to move to the northern German metropolis? We have compiled the most important information here. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help you.
Building and growing your startup in Germany
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In Hamburg you say “Moin” – which basically means “Hello”. You can use it at any time of the day or night. In the rest of Germany, Hamburg’s residents are considered to be a rather cool-headed and reserved bunch – but really, we’re not that bad once you’ve gotten to know us.
Hamburg’s business culture is still heavily influenced by the city’s Hanseatic legacy, and the city’s locals have always valued the toil of manual workers such as port workers and market vendors.
Hamburg is not only home to global players such as Airbus, Facebook, Google and Nivea, but also provides excellent opportunities for the perfect after-work experience – e.g. in the legendary St Pauli neighbourhood. Even the Beatles kicked off their music career in Hamburg.
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Hamburg offers a wealth of beneficial resources and funding opportunities for entrepreneurs. As a founder in Hamburg, you can benefit from various support services provided by universities, startup centers, the Chamber of Commerce, innovation consultancies, and other public and private entities. Most of these resources offer free guidance and networking opportunities within the city's startup and innovation ecosystem.
Startup City Hamburg has gathered essential details for you on how to establish a business and informs you about the financing options accessible for new businesses in Hamburg.
You can find these information under Funding & Startup Support.
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The easiest way to connect with the local start-up ecosystem is through shared communities, co-working spaces or mentoring programmes. Numerous communities such as 2hearts, Start.Hamburg and Hamburg Global Innovators Circle offer you opportunities to get in touch with other international founders. You can also find like-minded people in communities based on origin, such as the TD-IHK Startup Corner or Afrotopia. This allows you to exchange ideas, make valuable contacts and quickly become part of Hamburg's vibrant start-up scene.
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Information and support services aimed at international entrepreneurs can be found on various platforms. The Hamburg Welcome Centre, the Working Group of Self-Employed Migrants (Arbeitsgemeinschaft selbständiger Migranten e.V.) and Companies Without Borders (Unternehmen ohne Grenzen) can be helpful points of contact. Startup City Hamburg provides an initial overview of some of the specific points of contact.
Working and living in Germany
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Being a city state, Hamburg’s real estate market is very dense, and especially short-term rentals can be difficult to find. You are therefore advised to start looking for accommodation as early as possible.
Relatively cheap and yet with good public transport connection: the districts of Harburg, Barmbek, Lokstedt, Wilhelmsburg… More “hip” and expensive are the Schanzenviertel (“Schanze”) district, Altona, Ottensen…
Find out more about Hamburg’s districts and on how to find a home during your stay.
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As one of Germany’s main startup hubs, Hamburg offers a broad range of coworking spaces and hubs. The Startup City Hamburg´s coworking map provides an interactive overview of all coworking and office spaces, hubs and fab labs available in Hamburg, alongside information on innovation parks and real estate in Hamburg.
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Social security is divided into five branches: nursing care, pension, unemployment, accident and health insurance. Self-employed persons are not required to take out pension, unemployment and accident insurance. However, nursing care and health insurance are compulsory. Depending on your country of origin, you may be able to keep your old health insurance. For more detailed information, please visit the Hamburg Welcome Centre.
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Certain family members can apply for a residence permit. These include spouses, registered same-sex partners and minor children. Under certain circumstances, parents and parents-in-law can also join you. You can find more information on the specific regulations at the Hamburg Welcome Centre.
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To work in regulated professions or qualify for certain support programs, your foreign degrees or certifications may need recognition in Germany. This is especially important for health, education, and skilled trades.
Start with the Recognition Finder Tool to see if your profession requires assessment. Help is available via the Welcome Center's Zentrale Anlaufstelle Anerkennung (ZAA) and at: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de , Make It in Germany – Recognition
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There is a lot to consider when founding a start-up. The taxes your start-up has to pay depend primarily on the legal form you choose. Regardless of this, there are several points you should definitely be aware of:
1. Tax registration: After registering your business, you will receive a tax registration questionnaire in which you must specify, among other things, your estimated income and turnover.
2. Advance VAT return: If your start-up is subject to VAT, you must submit a regular advance VAT return and pay the tax to the tax office.
3. Trade tax: Trade tax is levied by local authorities and varies depending on location. Sole traders have an allowance of 24,500 Euro.
4. Income tax: If you have employees, you must withhold income tax and pay it to the tax office.
5. Input tax deduction: If your start-up pays VAT, you can reclaim the input tax charged on your purchases from the tax office.
6. Tax return: Every year, a tax return must be submitted for income tax, corporation tax, trade tax and VAT.
Good to know before you settle to Hamburg
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If you’re planning on coming to Hamburg to live and work, you should be aware of any applicable visa and entry requirements. Please note that different rules may apply, depending e.g. on whether you are a citizen of a country within the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, or a citizen of any other world region.
To learn more about the entry process, check out the links below, with information provided by the Hamburg Welcome Center, or visit the Hamburg Welcome Portal:
· hamburg.com/welcome/entry-residence
· General information on the visa process for citizens of other states
· Requirements for citizens of other states wishing to set up a self-employed business
Note: It is recommended that you start the application process for an entry visa, residence permit or work permit at an early stage as it may take several months to complete. Typically, a visa has to be applied for in person at the German diplomatic mission in or closest to your home country. If you’re a citizen of an EU or EEA country, you have the right to live, work and study in Germany without any visa or permits.
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First of all you should look up general information for employers regarding different employment conditions and aspects to be considered.
If you and your Startup are settled in Hamburg, you can post your current vacancies on the Startup City Hamburg job portal and find smart people for your growing teams.
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In Germany, the main legal forms for startups include:
- UG (Unternehmergesellschaft): A mini-GmbH with low starting capital
- GmbH: A limited liability company, ideal for scaling
- GbR or Einzelunternehmen: For freelancers or very small teams
Each form affects your liability, taxes, and registration process. Choosing the right one early helps avoid legal and financial issues later on.
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It is often easier to set up a startup with a co-founder. But how do you find one? There are various ways to do this, from attending networking events to using online platforms. Startup Port offers events and programmes in Hamburg such as Meet&Match and Co-Founders Connect. You can also take part in start-up meetings, pitch competitions, workshops, hackathons and boot camps. Online platforms such as FoundersNation, CoFoundersLab, femalecofounders, founderio and Startup City Hamburg also offer the opportunity to network directly with other founders. For more information, take a look here.
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How to open a business Bank account in Hamburg as an international Founder
Opening a business bank account is one of the first and most crucial steps when starting your company in Germany.
As a migrant entrepreneur, the process can be more complex—but with the right documents and guidance, it’s fully manageable.
To open a business bank account in Hamburg, you’ll typically need:
- A valid passport or national ID
- A registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) confirming your official address in Hamburg
- A valid residence permit if you are from a non-EU country (your visa must explicitly allow self-employment)If you are founding with partners, banks may also require additional documents:
- Partnerships (GbR, oHG): IDs of all partners, the partnership agreement, and for an oHG, an extract from the Commercial Register (Handelsregisterauszug), a partner list (Gesellschafterliste), and possibly a trade license.
- Corporations (GmbH, UG, AG): IDs of founders and managing directors, a shareholder list (Gesellschafterliste), articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag), a certificate of incorporation (Gründungsurkunde), and an extract from the Commercial Register.
Some banks may also ask for a business plan, proof of startup registration, or a tax number, especially if the account is for a company rather than a freelancer.
Opening an account can take time and requires a personal appointment at most banks. Some online or fintech banks also offer business accounts for founders with international backgrounds.
💡 Tip: The Hamburg Welcome Center and other advisory services like Unternehmer ohne Grenzen can help you navigate this process, choose the right bank, and prepare your documents.
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For entrepreneurs who want to set up a start-up or gain a foothold in Hamburg, a basic knowledge of the German language is an advantage – especially when dealing with authorities, business partners and customers. Many international entrepreneurs start out using English, but knowledge of German makes everyday life and integration much easier.
Integration and language courses, which are either funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) or offered through other state-funded programmes, teach practical German for everyday life and at the same time provide valuable insights into culture, society and working life in Germany.
You can find these courses, for example, at:
• State-funded programmes – The Welcome Centre Hamburg, the Migration Advice Service (MBE) of the Diakonie, and the Refugee Centre Hamburg help you select and arrange suitable language courses and also coordinate initial orientation courses.
• Hamburg Adult Education Centre (VHS) offers German courses from A1 to C2, flexible learning formats and family-friendly hours, ideal for working people or parents.
• IKB e.V. – Intercultural Meeting Place – Here you can take B1 German courses and the ‘Living in Germany’ (LiD) certificate, which is often required for residence and integration.
• UnS Language Institute – Specialised business German courses, ideal for entrepreneurs who want to learn German in a professional context.
Contact our Startup Unit for a consultation
Advisory Session for startups:
Reach out via mail at beratung@startupcity.hamburg
Book a free startup consultation (by phone or video call on request, 40 minutes) with the Hamburg Invest Startup Unit.