Easily deposit share capital online
Accelerate your company formation by depositing your GmbH/UG share capital online – free of charge, via instant bank transfer, with no bank appointment required.
Business banking you can rely on
Fast share capital deposit with Holvi
- Open your founder’s account online – no bank appointment required
- Get your IBAN and deposit your share capital free of charge
- Download your bank statement online
- Ready for the commercial register entry within a few days
What is share capital?
The share capital of a GmbH or UG serves as security for creditors. The exact amount of share capital is defined in the articles of association.
By law, the minimum share capital for a GmbH is €25,000. Forming a company with less share capital is only possible as a UG.
A UG can be founded with as little as €1, but it must retain 25% of its annual profits until the €25,000 threshold is reached.
Before a GmbH or UG can be entered into the commercial register, proof of a fraction of the share capital must be provided.
How much share capital do I need to deposit?
For a GmbH, half of the share capital is enough on day one. At €25,000, that’s €12,500. The remainder is recorded as an outstanding contribution – formation can still go ahead.
Shareholders must also have paid in at least 25% of their cash contributions by the formation date; contributions in kind must be provided in full.
Please note: if the full share capital isn’t paid in by the formation date, the remaining amount must be contributed later. Until then, the GmbH’s shareholders are personally liable with their private assets.
For a UG, unlike a GmbH, the share capital is paid in full and entirely in cash.
Cash formation
In a cash formation, the share capital required for formation is paid in cash into an account. To do this, a business account must first be opened for the GmbH or UG. Usually, the contributions are paid via bank transfer. You use a bank statement to prove to the notary that the share capital has been paid. This clears the way for the GmbH or UG to be entered into the commercial register.
Cash formation: advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages of cash formation: | Disadvantages of cash formation: |
|---|---|
| Simplified formation with standard legal template possible | The share capital must be available in cash |
| Online formation possible | |
| Cost- and time-saving |
Formation in kind
Instead of a cash contribution, the share capital of a GmbH can also be provided fully or partially as a contribution in kind. This is not possible for a UG. Contributions in kind are, for example:
- Real estate
- Goods & inventory
- Machinery
- Accounts receivable
- Patents & licences
Formation in kind is usually chosen when not enough capital is available in cash, but it involves more effort and costs. Contributions in kind must be listed in a separate, written asset valuation report signed by the shareholders. The value of the contributions in kind must be proven, for example by means of invoices, purchase contracts or expert appraisals.
Formation in kind: advantages and disadvantages
| Advantage of formation in kind: | Disadvantages of formation in kind: |
|---|---|
| Share capital does not need to be available in cash | Simplified template cannot be used – increased effort due to custom articles of association |
| Additional effort and costs for the asset valuation report | |
| Private liability risk if the value of the items was stated incorrectly |
What to keep in mind when depositing share capital?
The bank transfer must be clearly identifiable as a share capital deposit. The payment reference should therefore read: Share Capital + First Name + Last Name.
Frequently asked questions about depositing share capital
The statutory minimum share capital for a GmbH is €25,000. A UG (haftungsbeschränkt) can be founded with as little as €1, but must set aside 25% of its annual profit each year until €25,000 is reached.
For a GmbH, half of the share capital is enough on day one – that’s €12,500 of €25,000. At least 25% of the cash contributions must be paid in by the formation date, and contributions in kind in full. For a UG, the share capital is paid in full and entirely in cash.
Proof is provided with a bank statement submitted to the notary. The transfer must be clearly identifiable as a share capital deposit – the payment reference should read “Share Capital + First Name + Last Name”.
Yes. With a founder’s account opened online, the share capital can be deposited directly by bank transfer – with no bank appointment. The bank statement is then available online for the commercial register entry.
With a cash formation, the share capital is paid in as money. With a formation in kind, assets such as real estate, machinery or patents are contributed instead. Formation in kind is only possible for a GmbH, not a UG, and it involves extra effort, since an asset valuation report has to be prepared.
Yes. The Holvi founder’s account can be opened online with no bank appointment. Once you receive your IBAN, you can deposit the share capital by bank transfer and download the bank statement for the notary and the commercial register.
Back in 2019, as a founder, I needed an account for my newly set-up company. I compared different options and very quickly found Holvi: digital, reliable and affordable. Ever since, Holvi has meant ‘peace of mind’ to me. Everything runs smoothly, is clear and quick. For me, that’s a blessing, because I can focus on my business and know that Holvi just works.
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Formation is just the beginning. Now set up your new company’s finances.
Business account
After formation: your account for day-to-day business, fully online
Online bookkeeping
Receipts, invoices and the export to your tax advisor in one place
