🇩🇪Freelancing in Germany
Everything you need to know to run a compliant and profitable freelance business in Germany, from taxes and legal structures to getting paid globally.
Need-to-Know Insights
Germany distinguishes between "Freiberufler" (freelance professionals in IT, design, writing, consulting) and "Gewerbetreibender" (tradespeople). Freiberufler status exempts you from trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) — classification matters greatly.
The Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business regulation) lets you avoid charging VAT if your revenue was under €22,000 last year and is under €50,000 this year. You cannot reclaim VAT on business purchases, however.
Health insurance is mandatory. As a freelancer, you can choose between public (gesetzliche) or private (private) health insurance. Public insurance costs ~14.6% of income; private can be cheaper for younger, healthy individuals.
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Quick Stats
- Local CurrencyEUR (€)
- Average Hourly Rate (Tech)€50 - €120
- Freelancer StatusFreiberufler (liberal profession)
Tax Landscape
Regulated by: Finanzamt (Local Tax Office)
- Income Tax14% - 45% (Progressive)
- Solidarity Surcharge5.5% on income tax
- VAT (Umsatzsteuer)19% (Threshold: €22k Kleinunternehmer)