🇵🇱→🇩🇪

Your company in Germany

Practical guide for Polish entrepreneurs looking to operate in Brandenburg and Germany

🎯 Why Brandenburg?

3-4×

Higher rates for services

80 km

To Berlin from the border

None

legal barriers (EU)

Brandenburg is a huge market with a shortage of tradespeople and service providers. Polish companies from the Lubuskie region can provide services in Germany without additional permits — a business registration is enough.

📋 How to start — step by step

Registering cross-border activity

The EU-Dienstleistungsfreiheit form for the HWK (Handwerkskammer) or IHK. As an EU company you have the right to provide services without setting up a company in Germany.

Tax number in Germany (Steuernummer)

If you want to issue invoices in Germany → apply at the Finanzamt. You can obtain the USt-IdNr (VAT-ID) via the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern.

Insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung)

Professional liability insurance is mandatory. Polish policies are sometimes recognised in Germany (please check with your insurer). Alternatively: German insurance from about €30/month.

A1 certificate (posting of workers)

If you post workers to Germany → the A1 form from ZUS. It confirms that you pay contributions in Poland. Without an A1 the penalty can reach €30,000.

Mindestlohn and documentation

The minimum wage in Germany is €12.82/h (2026). You must document your workers’ working hours in Germany. Zoll (customs) inspections may occur on site.

🔥 Sectors with the highest demand in Germany

🏗️

Construction

35-55€/h

⚡

Electrician / PV

40-65€/h

SHK / Plumbing

40-60€/h

🚛

Transport

1.2-1.8€/km

🏥

Care / Pflege

14-22€/h

💻

IT / Software

60-120€/h

⚠️ What to watch out for

Scheinselbständigkeit — if you work for only one German company, the German Finanzamt may treat you as an employee rather than a subcontractor. Consequence: back-payment of contributions + a penalty.

Schwarzarbeit — working without registration is a criminal offence in Germany. Zoll inspections on construction sites, in hospitality and transport. Penalty: up to €500,000.

Meisterpflicht — in 53 skilled trades (e.g. electrician, hairdresser, baker) a Meisterbrief or equivalent qualification is required. As an EU company you may be exempt — please check with the HWK.

Invoices — in Germany the e-invoice format (XRechnung) is mandatory for B2G from 2025 and for B2B from 2027. It is worth preparing.

🔗 Useful links

🏛️

HWK Frankfurt (Oder)

Chamber of Crafts — business registration, Meisterpflicht

Finanzamt Frankfurt (Oder)

Tax number, VAT-ID, settlements

BVMW (association of small and medium-sized businesses)

Networking with German companies — DuoRegio partner

ZUS — A1 certificate

Worker posting form — zus.pl

Looking for jobs in Germany?