> Huh? What stops anybody from registering a company at the Handelsregister and start working? Maybe not really applicable for us tech nerds but the "Meisterzw

> Huh? What stops anybody from registering a company at the Handelsregister and start working? Maybe not really applicable for us tech nerds but the "Meisterzwang" is a real obstacle for many people. But aside from that arcane institution there's not really anything forbidding you to start a company. The problem I have with Germany is the time and bureaucratic burden it takes to get a Gmbh up and running. You're looking at a procedure that takes multiple months and visits at a notary office for the paperwork. Compare that to the UK where all you have to do is log into a website and fill out a form to have your Ltd up and running.