Knowledge with impact.

You are getting started

You don't need any prior knowledge or a subscription to get started. You'll learn the most by using AI for something you have to get done anyway.

What can I use AI for in everyday life?

For almost anything you'd otherwise spend a long time writing, researching or thinking through. Have it explain an official letter in plain words, draft a difficult email, plan a trip or prepare you for an important conversation. The more concrete your reason, the more useful the answer.

Which tool should I use?

For everyday use, the well-known chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude are enough. They're constantly being developed, and which one is ahead keeps changing. Pick one and stick with it for a while, because you learn more when you know a tool well.

Do I need the paid version?

Not at the start. It can be worth it once you hit the limits of the free version, for example on the number of queries or with large files, or when you use AI every day at work.

How do I ask so that the answer is useful?

Describe your task the way you'd explain it to a new colleague: what you need, what it's for and in what form. If the answer doesn't fit, tell the AI what's missing instead of starting over. Good results usually only come at the second or third attempt.

What's better left out?

Passwords, bank details, ID numbers, health data and other people's data. With many free versions, what you type may be used for training unless you switch this off in the settings.

What you can do now

1. Pick a task you have to do this week anyway and let an AI help you with it.
2. If the first answer doesn't fit, tell the AI what's missing and ask follow-up questions.
3. Check in the settings whether your inputs are used for training, and switch this off.

You learn with AI

With AI, you can get to grips with a new topic in minutes, whether it's a tax assessment, a tenancy agreement or a technical term at work. Whether the knowledge sticks depends on how you use it.

How do I learn a new topic with AI?

First, have the topic explained in plain words and keep asking until you can put it in your own words. Then ask the AI to quiz you and explain what you got wrong.

Do I really learn anything if the AI gives me the solution?

Often not. In a large study, pupils who had practised with a standard AI chatbot did worse than the comparison group in the exam without AI. Those who practised with an AI that only gave hints didn't have this disadvantage. So ask the AI for hints and questions instead of the finished solution.

Can I practise conversations with AI?

Yes, this is one of its real strengths. Let the AI play your manager, a client or a panel and practise your salary negotiation, your presentation or your answers to difficult questions as often as you like. What to watch out for in its feedback is covered under Presence.

What you can do now

1. Have the AI explain a topic that's on your mind right now, and keep asking until you can explain it yourself.
2. Ask the AI to quiz you and give you hints instead of solutions.
3. Role-play a conversation you have coming up soon.

You check what AI tells you

AI answers always sound convincing, even when they're wrong. A few simple steps help you tell what you can rely on.

Why does AI make things up?

A language model calculates which word is likely to come next. It doesn't know whether something is true, so a wrong answer sounds just as confident as a right one. New models make such mistakes too, especially with numbers, dates, people and specialist questions.

Can I rely on the source the AI gives me?

Not without checking. Tests have shown again and again that AI search tools attribute sources wrongly or make up links. So open the source yourself and read whether it really says what the AI claims.

How does AI choose its sources?

It summarises what it can easily find online. So what comes first is often what's most visible, which isn't always the most expert, and sometimes it's advertising. For law, taxes, money and health, it's worth looking at the websites of public authorities, consumer advice centres and experts.

How can I tell whether an answer is up to date?

Ask the AI how up to date its knowledge is and whether it searched the web for the answer. Laws, prices and deadlines change all the time, and a model only knows what was in its training data or its latest search.

What you can do now

1. For every important answer, open the source given and read the passage yourself.
2. Look at who's behind the source: a public authority, a specialist publication, a forum or an advertising site.
3. Ask how up to date the answer is, and take extra care to check numbers, dates and statements about people.

You use AI at work

At work, AI saves the most time with texts, research, summaries and analyses. What matters is which tools and which data are allowed.

Can I just use AI at work?

That's up to your employer. If there are rules, they apply. If there aren't any, ask before you enter company data, and suggest drawing some up together.

What's shadow AI, and is it a problem?

Shadow AI means using tools your employer hasn't provided, such as your private account. Almost one in three people who use AI at work do this (German Economic Institute, 2026). It becomes a problem when customer data, staff data or trade secrets end up in a tool that nobody in the company has checked.

What data doesn't belong in an AI tool?

Other people's names, contact details and health data, confidential company information and anything covered by a duty of confidentiality. Without a data processing agreement with the provider, your company usually isn't allowed to put personal data into such a tool.

Does my employer have to train me?

Under the EU AI Act, companies that use AI have to take measures to support their staff's AI literacy. Since the end of July 2026, companies no longer have to ensure a specific level of AI literacy for each employee. It's still worth asking for training, because many companies don't offer any yet.

What you can do now

1. Ask your manager or IT whether there are rules and approved tools.
2. Don't enter customer or staff data or confidential information into private AI accounts.
3. Ask for AI training.

AI is changing your job

For most people, AI changes individual tasks, not the whole profession. If you get involved early, you'll help decide which ones.

Will AI replace my job?

Usually not as a whole. What the labour market shows above all is a shift in tasks: routine work gets done faster, while judgement, relationships and responsibility become more important.

Is it worth learning how to work with AI?

Yes. In many sectors, employers in Germany pay considerably more when a job requires AI skills. Above all, they're looking for people who apply AI in their own field: in 2025, for every job ad in AI development, there were about seven for roles that apply AI (PwC, 2026).

What does this mean for me in practice?

Look at which of your tasks are routine and which need judgement, relationships or responsibility. With routine work, AI takes tasks off your hands, and with the rest it helps you be faster and better prepared. AI also creates new tasks, because someone has to plan it, guide it and check it.

What you can do now

1. Write down your tasks and mark which are routine and which need judgement or relationships.
2. Try out how much AI can take off your hands with one routine task.
3. Ask your employer for AI training.

You use AI in your own business

If you use AI in your own business, you take on obligations around labelling, rights and data protection.

Do I have to label AI content?

The transparency obligations of the EU AI Act have applied since 2 August 2026, and they weren't postponed. If you publish realistic images, videos or audio of real people or places, you have to disclose that they were generated artificially. If you use a chatbot, people have to be told that they're talking to an AI.

Do I own texts and images I created with AI?

Not automatically. In February 2026, Munich Local Court (Amtsgericht München) ruled that a logo created purely with AI isn't protected by copyright, even with very detailed instructions. Your own creative contribution has to clearly outweigh the AI's. Otherwise anyone can use your logo.

What do I need to know about data protection?

If you enter data about customers or staff into an AI tool, you usually need a data processing agreement with the provider. The tool also has to be listed in your privacy policy.

What you can do now

1. Check where you use AI images, AI videos or chatbots, and label them.
2. Sign a data processing agreement with every AI provider that processes personal data.
3. Don't rely on AI alone for your logo and brand identity if you need the rights to them.

You want to protect yourself from deepfakes and fraud

Deepfakes mostly target women, and the law is changing a lot right now.

What are deepfakes?

Deepfakes are images, videos or voices that are created or altered with AI and look or sound real. Most of them are sexualised fakes, and almost all of these show women.

Is a sexualised deepfake of me a criminal offence?

Your personality rights and the right to your own image can already apply today. But there's no specific criminal offence yet. On 7 October 2026, the federal cabinet approved a law against digital violence under which even creating sexualised deepfakes would become a criminal offence. It now goes to parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat) and hasn't come into force yet.

How does fraud with a cloned voice work?

Fraudsters use AI to imitate the voice of a family member and fake an emergency on the phone. A few recordings are enough, for example from social media. You can barely tell from the sound that it's fake.

Who helps me if it happens to me?

HateAid advises people affected by digital violence and may cover legal costs. Save evidence with the date and link before the content is deleted, and report it to the police.

What you can do now

1. Agree on a code word with your family for emergency calls.
2. If a call seems suspicious, hang up and call back on the number you have for them.
3. If it happens, save screenshots with the date and link, report it to the police and contact HateAid.

You are employed

In 2022, around 11.6 million employees weren't assessed for income tax, more than two in five (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). Many wouldn't have to file a tax return, but many would get money back.

Do I have to file a tax return?

As an employee, you have to file if you're in tax class VI, or if you're married, you both work and one of you is in tax class V or you use the factor method. You also have to file if you received more than €410 in parental allowance, unemployment benefit or sickness benefit, or if your other income, such as the profit from a side job or the surplus from renting out property, is above €410. Otherwise it's voluntary, and you can file for up to four years back. For 2022, you can still do this until 31 December 2026.

What's the deadline?

If you have to file and do it yourself, you have until 31 July of the following year. With a tax adviser or a wage tax assistance association (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein), the deadline for 2025 is 1 March 2027. If you file late, the tax office can charge a late filing penalty.

When is it worth collecting receipts?

The tax office automatically allows a flat €1,230 for work-related expenses (Werbungskostenpauschale). So receipts only help once you go above that. Since 2026, your commute counts at €0.38 per kilometre, from the first kilometre and for one way only.

How does the home office allowance work?

For each day you work mainly from home, you can claim €6, up to €1,260 a year. The allowance counts as a work-related expense, so it only makes a difference once your total goes above €1,230.

What else can I deduct apart from work-related expenses?

For tradespeople, cleaners or gardeners in your own home, you can deduct 20% of the labour costs directly from your tax, up to €1,200 a year for trade work and €4,000 for household services. You need an invoice and must pay by bank transfer. Cash payments don't count.

What you can do now

1. Check whether one of the compulsory cases applies to you, such as tax class V or parental allowance above €410.
2. If you haven't filed a return for 2022 yet, do it by 31 December 2026.
3. For 2026, keep a note of your home office days and the distance to work, so you can see whether you'll go above €1,230.
4. Pay tradespeople and household help by bank transfer and keep the invoice.

You work part-time or in a minijob

On a smaller income, more wage tax is often withheld than is due in the end. More than half of all minijobs are held by women (Minijob-Zentrale, 2026).

Does my minijob go on my tax return?

Usually not. Up to €603 a month, your employer usually pays a flat 2% tax, and that settles it. You only have to declare the minijob if it's taxed through your tax class. The payroll office can tell you whether that's the case.

What changes between €603 and €2,000?

In what's called a midijob, you pay wage tax according to your tax class but lower social security contributions. In tax class V, a lot of wage tax is withheld. How much of it you really owe only becomes clear with your joint tax return.

Is a tax return worth it if I work part-time?

Often, yes. In 2026, you pay no income tax on taxable income up to €12,348 a year. If wage tax was deducted anyway, for example because you only worked for a few months, you get it back with your return.

What applies if I have two jobs with wage tax?

The second job is taxed under tax class VI, and you then have to file a tax return. A minijob with flat-rate tax as a second job doesn't trigger this obligation.

What you can do now

1. Ask the payroll office whether your minijob is taxed at the flat rate.
2. Check your annual payroll tax certificate (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung) to see whether wage tax was deducted even though you earned less than €12,348 that year. If so, file a return.
3. If you have a second job in tax class VI, remember you'll have to file a tax return.

You are married

Tax class V is almost exclusively made up of women. It doesn't change how much tax you pay as a couple over the year, but it does change what you have left each month.

Do we pay less tax with III and V?

No. The tax class only splits the monthly deduction between you. What you pay for the year is only settled with the tax return, and with III and V it's compulsory. Of the couples with this combination, almost 46% recently had to pay extra (Federal Statistical Office, 2024).

Why does the tax class matter anyway?

Parental allowance, unemployment benefit and sickness benefit are calculated from your net pay and are much lower in tax class V. For parental allowance, what counts is the tax class that applied for most of the twelve months before the maternity protection period (Mutterschutz). So a change must take effect at least seven months beforehand. For unemployment benefit, a change only counts if the new class fits the ratio of your two salaries. So a quick switch shortly before you become unemployed usually doesn't help.

What's the factor method?

You're both in tax class IV with a factor that splits your joint tax according to your actual salaries. That way your net pay reflects your share, and large back payments are less likely. You apply for it together at the tax office, which you can also do through ELSTER, the tax office's online portal.

Are tax classes III and V being abolished?

As of October 2026, no. The previous federal government wanted to replace them with the factor method from 2030, but this was never passed into law. Both classes can still be chosen, and you can switch several times a year.

What you can do now

1. Check your payslip to see which tax class you're in.
2. Have the factor method calculated at the tax office or with the Federal Ministry of Finance's calculator.
3. If you're planning a child, sort out your tax class at least seven months before the maternity protection period starts.
4. If you stay with III and V, set money aside for a possible back payment.

You are having a child

Mothers plan for almost 15 months of parental allowance on average (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). That year has tax consequences that many only notice when the tax assessment arrives.

Parental allowance is tax-free. Why do I still have to pay extra?

Parental allowance and maternity benefit are tax-free, but they raise the tax rate on the rest of your income. That's why you have to file a return once they exceed €410 a year. Back payments mostly affect couples where one partner keeps earning.

Do I have to choose between child benefit and the child allowance?

No. The tax office checks in your tax return which is better for you. In 2026, child benefit (Kindergeld) is €259 a month. On a higher income, the child tax allowance (Kinderfreibetrag) is worth more, and child benefit is then offset against it.

What can I deduct for nursery, childminder or after-school care?

You can deduct 80% of childcare costs, up to €4,800 per child a year, as long as the child is under 14. You need an invoice and must pay by bank transfer. Meals don't count. If your employer contributes to nursery costs, this is tax-free until your child starts school.

What relief is there if I'm a single parent?

As a single parent, you get a tax relief of €4,260 a year (Entlastungsbetrag für Alleinerziehende), plus €240 for each additional child. It is built into Steuerklasse II (tax class II). The condition is that your child is registered at your address and no other adult lives in your household. An adult child for whom you still receive child benefit doesn't count.

What you can do now

1. In the year you receive parental allowance, set money aside for a possible back payment and file your return.
2. Pay for childcare by bank transfer and keep the invoices.
3. Ask your employer about a tax-free contribution to nursery costs.
4. If you're a single parent, check that your payslip shows tax class II.

You are investing

Your first investment account brings your first tax questions: what stays tax-free and how to get back tax you overpaid.

How much of my return stays tax-free?

€1,000 a year in interest, dividends and capital gains, or €2,000 if you're assessed jointly. To stop your bank deducting tax on this, give it an exemption order (Freistellungsauftrag). If you have several banks, you split the amount between them.

The bank deducted tax anyway. Can I get it back?

Yes, with Anlage KAP (the capital income form) in your tax return. This often happens when the exemption order was too low or was with the wrong bank.

Do I pay 25% even if I work part-time or I'm on parental leave?

Not necessarily. If your personal tax rate is below 25%, you can apply for a comparison test (Günstigerprüfung) in Anlage KAP, and your lower rate is then used. If your total income is below the basic tax-free allowance, you can give your bank a non-assessment certificate (Nichtveranlagungsbescheinigung).

What happens to losses on shares?

Losses from selling shares can only be offset against gains from selling shares. If you have several banks, ask for a loss certificate by 15 December, and the tax office will then offset them across all your investment accounts.

What you can do now

1. Check whether your exemption orders add up to the full €1,000 or €2,000.
2. If you work part-time or you're on parental leave, apply for the comparison test in Anlage KAP.
3. If you have losses at one bank and gains at another, request the loss certificate by 15 December.

How to build up an investment account is covered under Building wealth.

You are self-employed on the side

Seven in ten new businesses start alongside a job (KfW, 2026). When it comes to tax, there are a few things you need to get right from the start.

When do I have to tell the tax office?

No later than one month after you start, with the tax registration questionnaire (Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung) via ELSTER. If your work counts as a trade, you also register it with the Gewerbeamt (trade office). Freelancers don't need to register a trade.

What does the small business VAT exemption do for me?

Under the small business VAT exemption (Kleinunternehmerregelung), you don't charge VAT and don't have to file advance returns, but you can't reclaim input VAT either. You can use it as long as your turnover was no more than €25,000 in the previous year and stays at or below €100,000 in the current year. In the year you start, a stricter limit applies: your turnover in that year must stay at or below €25,000. If you cross a limit during the current year, VAT applies from that sale onwards, not only from the following year.

Do I have to pay tax on a few hundred euros on the side?

As an employee, a profit from side work of up to €410 a year stays tax-free, and up to €820 it's only partly taxed. If you work as a coach or instructor, for example at a non-profit sports club, up to €3,300 a year in earnings is also tax-free, and up to €960 for volunteer work.

How is my profit taxed?

You work out income minus expenses and file this with Anlage EÜR (the profit calculation form). The profit is added to your salary and taxed at your personal rate. If you run a trade, trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) is only due on the part of your profit above €24,500 a year, and most of it is credited against your income tax. Freelancers don't pay trade tax.

What you can do now

1. Send the tax registration questionnaire within one month of starting.
2. Keep an eye on your turnover so you don't cross the €25,000 and €100,000 limits without noticing.
3. From day one, keep a list of all income and expenses and keep the receipts.

You are self-employed

Just over a third of self-employed people in Germany are women (WSI, 2025). The typical surprise comes in the second year, when a back payment and advance payments fall due at the same time.

What are advance tax payments?

The tax office sets quarterly advance payments on your income tax, often as soon as you send the tax registration questionnaire and at the latest after your first tax return. They are due on 10 March, 10 June, 10 September and 10 December. If your profit changes significantly, you can have them adjusted.

How much should I set aside?

The VAT you collect belongs to the tax office, so set all of it aside. There's no fixed rate for income tax, because it depends on your profit. The safest option is a separate account with a rate you agree with your tax adviser.

How often do I have to file VAT returns?

Usually every quarter, or monthly if your VAT in the previous year was over €9,000. The advance return is due on the 10th of the following month, or one month later with a permanent deadline extension (Dauerfristverlängerung).

What applies to e-invoices?

Since 2025, you must be able to receive and store e-invoices from other businesses, even if you use the small business VAT exemption. You have to issue them to businesses yourself from 2027 if your turnover in the previous year was over €800,000, and from 2028 for all businesses. Those using the small business VAT exemption are exempt.

How long do I have to keep receipts?

Keep invoices and bank statements for eight years, books and annual accounts for ten years, and business letters for six years.

What you can do now

1. Put the four advance payment dates in your calendar.
2. Set up a separate account for VAT and tax reserves, and agree the rate with your tax adviser.
3. Make sure you can receive and archive e-invoices.

You are separating

In 2025, around 130,100 marriages ended in divorce in Germany (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). The legal side is covered under Law. For tax, quite a lot changes from the year after you separate.

What changes for tax after the separation?

For the year you separate, you can still be assessed jointly and use income splitting if you were still living together on at least one day of that year. You both have to agree to this. From the following year, each of you is assessed separately. Your tax class is then I, or II with a child. Whoever is in tax class III must report the separation to the tax office. Agree early on who receives a refund or pays a back payment for the year you separate.

What's Realsplitting?

With Realsplitting (deducting maintenance paid to a former spouse), whoever pays maintenance to a former partner can deduct up to €13,805 a year, plus any health and long-term care insurance contributions they cover. The person receiving the maintenance must agree and then pays tax on it themselves. If you receive maintenance, agree before you sign that you'll be compensated for the tax disadvantages.

Can I deduct child maintenance or the divorce?

Neither. Child maintenance is covered by child benefit and the child tax allowance, and since 2013 the costs of divorce proceedings are generally not deductible.

What you can do now

1. Report the separation to the tax office so your tax class is correct from 1 January.
2. If you receive maintenance, only sign your consent to Realsplitting once compensation for your tax disadvantages has been agreed in writing.

The legal side of separation and divorce is covered under Law.

You inherit or receive a gift

In 2025, €141.1 billion was inherited and given away in Germany, 23.1% more than the year before (Federal Statistical Office, 2026).

How high are the tax-free allowances?

The tax-free allowance is €500,000 for spouses, €400,000 for children and €200,000 for grandchildren. Siblings, friends and unmarried partners only get €20,000.

Can I use the allowances more than once?

Yes, they renew every ten years. Gifts from the same person within ten years are added together. So if you give early and spread it out, you can use the allowances several times.

What applies if we live together without being married?

For tax purposes, you're strangers, with a €20,000 allowance and the highest tax rates. You also don't inherit the house or flat you shared tax-free. That only applies to married couples, registered civil partners and, up to 200 m² of living space, children.

Do I have to report an inheritance or a gift?

Yes, within three months to the responsible tax office. The Federal Constitutional Court heard the inheritance tax case in October 2026. Until there is a decision and lawmakers have responded, the current law applies. Talk to a tax adviser before making larger gifts.

What you can do now

1. Write down the date and value of every gift so you can keep track of the ten years.
2. If you live together without being married, have someone work out what an inheritance between you would cost.
3. Report an inheritance or gift to the tax office within three months.

You have your own GmbH

With a GmbH, you decide how much you pay yourself as salary and how much stays in the company. That has big tax consequences.

Salary or dividends: which costs less?

Your salary as managing director reduces the GmbH's profit and is taxed for you like employment income. It must be reasonable and agreed in writing in advance. If the GmbH pays out its profit, it first pays around 30% and you then pay just over 25% on the rest, close to 50% in total. That's why a reasonable salary usually costs less today. The GmbH comes into its own when the profit stays in the company: then it's only around 30%. From 2032, corporation tax falls to 10%, and on a high income, paying out dividends can then cost less too.

What does a holding company do for my taxes?

If your GmbH pays profits to your holding GmbH or the holding company sells shares, 95% of that is tax-free, for dividends once the holding company owns at least 15%. This leaves an effective tax of around 1.5%. You only pay personal tax when the holding company pays the money out to you.

I want to sell my business. Is there any relief?

If you sell a sole proprietorship at 55 or older, you get a reduced tax rate once in a lifetime. For smaller gains, there's also an allowance of up to €45,000, which shrinks once the gain goes above €136,000 and is gone completely from €181,000. Under 55, the one-fifth rule (Fünftelregelung) helps, though it does little if your other income is high. If you sell GmbH shares you hold privately and own at least 1%, 60% of the profit is taxable. How to set up the holding company in time is covered under Law.

Is corporation tax changing?

Yes. From 2028 it falls by one percentage point each year, from 15% to 10% from 2032.

What you can do now

1. Set out your salary as managing director in writing and in advance.
2. If you're thinking of selling, work out with your tax adviser now whether a holding company makes sense for you.

You are retiring

For many women, their pension isn't tax-free, and the taxable share rises with each new group of retirees.

How much of my pension do I have to pay tax on?

That depends on the year your pension starts. If you retire in 2026, 84% is taxed. The tax-free part is then fixed as a set amount, and later pension increases are fully taxable.

Do I have to file a tax return as a pensioner?

Yes, if your total income is above the basic tax-free allowance, which is €12,348 in 2026. The tax office is notified of your pension automatically.

What's the Aktivrente?

With the Aktivrente (tax-free earnings in retirement), if you keep working as an employee after the standard retirement age, up to €24,000 a year in wages has been tax-free since 2026, around €2,000 a month. This doesn't apply to the self-employed or to minijobs.

What you can do now

1. Work out roughly whether your income including your pension is above €12,348.
2. If you keep working after the standard retirement age, check with the payroll office that the Aktivrente is being applied.

You are ill for a long time

Sickness benefit is tax-free, but it still affects your taxes. And some of what you pay for your health yourself can be deducted.

Do I have to pay tax on sickness benefit?

No, sickness benefit is tax-free. But it raises the tax rate on the rest of your income, known as the progression proviso (Progressionsvorbehalt). So if you received more than €410 in sickness benefit in a year, you have to file a tax return, and you'll often have to pay extra. Your health insurer reports the amount to the tax office itself.

Which medical costs can I deduct?

Everything you pay yourself that your health insurer doesn't cover: co-payments for medication and therapies, treatments and aids prescribed by a doctor, and journeys to the practice or hospital. But you can only deduct the part above your “reasonable burden” (zumutbare Belastung). Depending on your income, marital status and number of children, this threshold is between 1 and 7% of your income.

Is it worth collecting receipts?

Yes. Medical costs count in the year you paid them. If several large expenses are coming up, such as dental work and new glasses, it can be worth putting them in the same year so that you get above the threshold.

What you can do now

1. File a tax return for every year in which you received more than €410 in sickness benefit, and set some money aside for the extra payment.
2. Keep all receipts for co-payments, prescriptions and journeys.
3. Where possible, put larger health expenses in the same year.

You are getting started

More than half of women put money aside regularly (Association of German Banks, 2026). That's a good way to start.

How much should I put aside before I invest?

The consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) recommends an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses in an account you can access at any time, such as an instant-access savings account. That way, you don't have to touch your long-term money when the washing machine breaks or you take a break from work. Deposits are protected by law up to €100,000 per bank.

What's an ETF savings plan?

An ETF is a fund that tracks a whole index and so invests in many companies at once. With a savings plan, you pay in a fixed amount every month, with many providers from just a few euros. Plan to leave the money for at least ten years, because prices go up and down along the way.

What should I look for in the costs?

Compare the fund's annual running costs, the account fee and the fee for each savings instalment. As a guide, the costs of the standard retirement investment account from 2027 may be no more than 1% a year. Anything well above that eats up a noticeable share of your return over the years.

What's the new retirement investment account?

From 1 January 2027, there will be a state-supported retirement investment account (Altersvorsorgedepot). For up to €1,800 a year of your own contributions, you get up to €540 in top-up payments, plus up to €300 per child. In return, the money is tied up until retirement, so a savings plan you can access freely alongside it still makes sense. You can only take out new Riester contracts (the previous state-supported pension plan) until the end of 2026.

What you can do now

1. Add up your monthly expenses and put three to six months' worth aside as an emergency fund in a separate instant-access savings account.
2. Compare the running fund costs, the account fee and the fee per savings instalment at two or three providers.
3. Start a savings plan at an amount you can keep up even in tight months.
4. From January 2027, check whether the retirement investment account is right for you.

How much of your return stays tax-free is covered under Taxes.

You work part-time or are on parental leave

A large part of the later pension gap builds up during part-time work and parental leave. You can make up for some of it if you act in time.

How much pension does part-time work cost me?

If you earn the average for a year, you get one pension point, and since July 2026 this is worth €42.52 of monthly pension. On half a salary, it's half a point, so around €21 less pension a month for every year. How many points you have is shown in your pension statement (Renteninformation).

What do child-raising periods do for me?

For each child born from 1992 onwards, up to three years are counted as if you had earned the average, which is around €127 of monthly pension per child. But these periods are only recorded if you apply for them with the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung). From 2027, the three years also apply to children born before 1992.

Should I opt out of pension insurance in my minijob?

If you stay in, you pay a small contribution of your own and build up full contribution periods, which count towards a reduced earning capacity pension, for example. The German Pension Insurance will work out for free whether opting out makes sense for you.

Do I get more support as a mother?

Yes. In the retirement investment account from 2027, the state doubles every euro you pay in, up to €300 per child per year. With small contributions in particular, that's a large share.

What you can do now

1. Check your insurance record with the German Pension Insurance to see whether your child-raising periods are recorded, and apply for them if not.
2. Look up in your pension statement how many pension points you have so far.
3. If you have a minijob, ask the German Pension Insurance to explain what opting out means for you.
4. Make a note of the child top-up in the retirement investment account for 2027.

You are a couple

Whether you have a joint account or keep your money separate, in the end what counts is whose name your savings and pension provision are in.

Joint account or separate accounts?

Many couples combine both, with a joint account for fixed costs and their own accounts for everything else. Who owns the assets matters more than the model. An investment account belongs to the person whose name it is in.

How do we balance things out if I earn less because of the children?

Whoever takes on more care work and earns less as a result builds up a smaller pension and fewer assets of their own. You can balance this out, for example by having the partner with the higher income pay into an investment account in the other partner's name every month. Put this in writing.

Is it enough if one of us takes care of the money?

For everyday matters, yes, but for the overall picture, no. You should both know which accounts, investment accounts, contracts and loans exist and whose name they are in. This matters most in the event of illness, separation or death.

What you can do now

1. Make a list together of all accounts, investment accounts, pension contracts and loans, with the name each one is in.
2. Look at how much in assets and pension provision each of you has in your own name.
3. If one of you cuts back at work, agree on a monthly payment into an investment account in their name and put it in writing.

How to secure this kind of arrangement legally is covered under Law.

You are over 50 and want to catch up

A woman who is 65 today has just over 21 years ahead of her on average (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). So your money has to work for a long time, and it's worth starting even now.

Is investing still worth it at 50?

Yes, because the time span is longer than it feels: it runs until retirement and then for another two decades. The new retirement investment account also pays out until at least the age of 85.

How do I find out how big my gap is?

From the age of 55, the German Pension Insurance sends you a detailed pension report (Rentenauskunft) every three years, and at any time on request, free of charge. Since October 2026 it also shows the earliest date you can retire and what's left after health and long-term care contributions. Put your planned expenses in retirement next to it, and you'll see the gap.

Can I buy extra pension points?

From the age of 50, you can make special payments to offset the deductions for retiring early. If you end up retiring later after all, the money increases your pension. You don't get it back.

What if periods are missing from my pension account?

Training, children or caring for relatives are often missing from the insurance record. You can have them added with an account clarification (Kontenklärung) at the German Pension Insurance.

What you can do now

1. Request an up-to-date pension report and put your expenses in retirement next to it.
2. Check your insurance record for gaps and apply for an account clarification.
3. Have someone calculate what it would cost to offset the deductions with a special payment.

You are separating

One in six divorces comes after 25 or more years of marriage (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). Often, most of the pension provision is then in the partner's name.

What happens to our pension rights?

In a divorce, all pension rights you built up during the marriage are halved and shared, including company pensions and private pension contracts. The family court carries out this pension rights adjustment (Versorgungsausgleich) of its own accord. For a marriage of three years or less, it only does so if one of you applies for it.

And if we weren't married?

Then there's no pension rights adjustment. What was saved in your partner's name stays with him. That's why it matters whose name your pension provision is in, especially if you're not married.

What about joint loans?

With a joint loan, each of you is liable for the full amount, even after the separation. Also check who can access joint accounts and investment accounts and which powers of attorney exist.

What you can do now

1. List all accounts, investment accounts, pension contracts, loans and powers of attorney, no matter whose name they are in.
2. Request your own pension statement so you can see what you're entitled to.
3. Change the powers of attorney for accounts and investment accounts you no longer want to share.

The legal side of separation is covered under Law.

You are self-employed

Most self-employed people don't have to pay into the state pension scheme. So how much you put aside for retirement is entirely up to you.

Do I have to pay into the state pension scheme if I'm self-employed?

Usually not. There are exceptions, for example for teachers, midwives and self-employed nurses, for artists and writers through the Künstlersozialkasse (artists' social insurance fund) and for the self-employed with only one client. Within five years of starting, you can apply to be compulsorily insured.

Do I get state support if I'm self-employed?

From 2027, yes. In the new retirement investment account, the self-employed are eligible for support for the first time, with the same top-up as employees. Until now they were mostly excluded from Riester.

What's the Basisrente?

The Basisrente (basic pension), also known as the Rürup pension, is a pension contract whose contributions you can deduct from your tax to a large extent. In return, the money is tied up until retirement, and you can't take it out early or have it paid out as a lump sum.

How much should I set aside?

There's no fixed rate. As a guide, employees and their employer together pay 18.6% of gross pay into the pension system. If you set aside much less, you're less well covered than an employee with the same income.

What you can do now

1. Ask the German Pension Insurance to check whether your work already requires you to pay into the state pension scheme.
2. If you've been self-employed for less than five years, check whether you can still apply for compulsory insurance.
3. Work out what 18.6% of your monthly profit would be, and compare it with what you set aside today.
4. From 2027, look into the retirement investment account.

You inherit or suddenly come into money

In 2025, €141.1 billion was inherited and given away in Germany, 23.1% more than the year before (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). A large sum often attracts people who want to sell you something quickly.

Do I have to decide straight away what to do with the money?

No. First put the money somewhere safe and accessible, such as an instant-access savings account, and take your time. If you let yourself be rushed, you're more likely to sign something that isn't right for you.

Is my money safe if it's more than €100,000?

Statutory deposit protection covers €100,000 per bank. After an inheritance, a divorce or the sale of your own home, higher protection of up to €500,000 applies for a limited time. Securities in your investment account remain your property in any case, even if the bank goes bust.

Should I pay off debts or invest?

Paying off expensive loans like an overdraft or a personal loan first usually brings you more than any investment. With a low-cost mortgage and a long fixed-rate period, it's worth comparing the two.

What you can do now

1. Put the money in an instant-access savings account for now and, if it's more than €100,000, spread it across several banks.
2. Write down your debts with their interest rates and pay off the most expensive ones first.
3. Give yourself a few weeks before you make any larger investment decisions.

Tax-free allowances and inheritance tax are covered under Taxes.

You are thinking of buying property as an investment

A rented-out flat ties up a lot of money in a single place. Whether it pays off only becomes clear once you've done the numbers after all costs.

How do I work out whether a flat is worth it?

Divide the annual rent excluding service charges and heating (Nettokaltmiete) by the purchase price, and you have the gross rental yield. From this, subtract the purchase costs, service charges you can't pass on to tenants, reserves for repairs, vacancies and interest. Only what's left after that is your actual return.

What does financing cost at the moment?

For a ten-year fixed rate, mortgage rates were around 4 to 4.5% in autumn 2026, depending on the lender (Dr. Klein, 2026). Prices for flats and houses rose by only 0.6% year on year in the second quarter of 2026 (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). A calculation that only works if prices rise is therefore risky.

What extra costs come with buying?

Property transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) of between 3.5 and 6.5% depending on the federal state, notary and land registry fees, and often an estate agent's commission. The bank usually doesn't finance these costs, so you need to pay them from your own funds.

What you can do now

1. For a specific flat, work out the return after extra costs, reserves and interest.
2. Check how much of your own money you need just for the purchase costs.
3. Work out whether you could still pay the instalment if the flat had no rent coming in for a few months.

What to look out for legally when buying is covered under Law.

You are ill for a long time

A long illness costs you income and often pension too. How well you're protected is something you decide while you're healthy.

How much money will I be short with sickness benefit?

Sickness benefit is 70% of your gross salary, at most 90% of your net pay, and contributions to pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance are still deducted from it. In 2026, the maximum is €135.63 a day before deductions. If you earn more, the gap is correspondingly larger.

What if I can no longer work at all?

Then you may be entitled to a reduced earning capacity pension. You need five years in the statutory pension scheme, including at least three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years, and time spent raising children or receiving sickness benefit counts. The pension is usually much lower than your last salary.

Do I need occupational disability insurance?

It pays an agreed pension if you can no longer work in your profession, so it kicks in earlier than the statutory pension. You can only take it out while you're healthy, and the younger you are, the cheaper it is. Answer the health questions in full, otherwise the insurer may refuse to pay out later.

How big should my emergency fund be?

Three to six months of expenses in an instant-access savings account. It bridges the time until sickness benefit or an insurance policy pays out, and protects your investments from having to be sold at the wrong moment.

What you can do now

1. Ask your health insurer how much sickness benefit you'd receive, and work out how much you'd be short each month.
2. Build an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses.
3. Get quotes for occupational disability insurance while you're healthy, ideally through an independent fee-based adviser.
4. Check your pension statement to see how much your pension would be today if you could no longer work at all.

You are employed

At work, the most common disputes are about dismissals, severance pay and unpaid salary.

When am I protected against dismissal?

You're protected if you've been with the company for more than six months and more than ten people work there. Your employer then needs a socially justified reason. But you only have three weeks to challenge the dismissal. After that, it's valid.

Am I entitled to severance pay?

As a rule, you have no automatic right to it. Severance pay is negotiated, usually as part of an unfair dismissal claim.

Should I sign a termination agreement?

Don't sign it in the first meeting. Once you've signed, you can't withdraw, and the Federal Employment Agency can suspend your unemployment benefit for up to twelve weeks (Sperrzeit).

Can I find out what my colleagues earn?

In companies with more than 200 employees, you can find out what a comparable group earns on average. You send the request to the works council or, if there isn't one, to your employer.

What you can do now

1. If you've been given notice, write down the date, because you have three weeks to file a claim. Call a specialist employment lawyer that same week.
2. If you're offered a termination agreement, take it home with you and only sign once you've had advice.
3. If you want to know whether you're paid fairly, send your pay request in writing to the works council or your employer.

You are self-employed

For the self-employed, disputes are mostly about contracts and invoices that go unpaid.

Do I need a written contract for every job?

A contract is valid by email or a handshake too. In a dispute, though, only what you can prove will help. So put the work, price, payment terms and liability in writing. A confirming email is often enough.

Can I use terms and conditions from the internet?

We advise against it. Templates rarely fit your business, and invalid clauses simply don't apply. If you sell to private customers, a faulty clause can even lead to a cease-and-desist letter (Abmahnung).

Can I exclude my liability?

You can limit it, but you can't exclude it completely. You're always liable for intent and for harm to life or health, and as a rule for gross negligence too. Professional liability insurance covers the rest.

Am I falsely self-employed?

That can happen if you work mainly for one client, follow their instructions and are part of their team. A status determination procedure with the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) gives you clarity.

What do I do if a client doesn't pay?

Send a reminder once the payment term has passed and charge default interest. If they still don't pay, you can apply for a court payment order (Mahnbescheid) online yourself.

What you can do now

1. Have a lawyer write your terms and conditions and a model contract, tailored to your services and with a limit on liability.
2. Take out professional liability insurance that fits your risk.
3. If you work mainly for one client, have your status checked by the German Pension Insurance.
4. Put a payment term on every invoice and send a reminder as soon as it has passed.

You are having a child

Many of your rights around pregnancy and parental leave only apply if you claim them in time and in writing.

Can I be dismissed while I'm pregnant?

As a rule, your employer can't dismiss you from the start of the pregnancy until four months after the birth. If they didn't yet know about the pregnancy, you can tell them up to two weeks after receiving notice.

When do I have to register my parental leave?

You must notify your employer in writing at least seven weeks before it starts. During parental leave, you can work up to 32 hours a week. In companies with more than 15 employees, you even have a right to this part-time work under certain conditions.

Will I get my old job back afterwards?

You're entitled to an equivalent position, though not necessarily your exact old one. If you're treated unfairly, write everything down, because you have to assert claims under the General Equal Treatment Act within two months.

And if I'm self-employed?

So far, there's no statutory maternity protection for you like there is for employees. It's only been announced. With statutory health insurance, you only get maternity benefit (Mutterschaftsgeld) if your cover includes sickness benefit (Krankengeld). With private insurance, daily sickness allowance only pays if the policy started at least eight months before the birth, so you need to sort this out before you get pregnant.

What you can do now

1. Notify your employer in writing of your parental leave at least seven weeks in advance, and of your part-time work too if you want to work part-time.
2. If you're treated unfairly, note the date, the conversation and who was there, and assert your claims in writing within two months.
3. If you're self-employed, check your health insurance before you get pregnant: statutory with sickness benefit, or private with daily sickness allowance.

You are starting a business

Your legal form decides how much you're personally liable for and how much tax you pay, including when you sell later. Discuss it with a lawyer and a tax adviser.

Which legal form suits me?

If you're testing an idea on the side or starting alone, a sole proprietorship or working as a freelancer (Freiberuflerin) is often enough. It's simple and cheap, but you're liable with your private assets. If two of you start without a contract, you automatically form a GbR (civil law partnership) and are both personally liable, including for each other's mistakes. If you want to limit liability, the GmbH (limited liability company) is the standard. It needs €25,000 in share capital, and you pay in at least half when you set it up.

Isn't a UG enough?

You can set up a UG (a mini GmbH) with very little capital, but it has drawbacks. It has to set aside a quarter of its profit every year until it reaches €25,000, and the suffix “haftungsbeschränkt” (limited liability) shows banks, clients and investors straight away that there's little capital. If you can raise the money, the GmbH is usually the better choice.

Do I need a holding company?

If you want to grow, bring in investors or sell one day, a holding GmbH above your GmbH can make sense. Set it up from the start, because doing it later gets complicated. More on this under “You have run a business for years”.

Do I have to protect my company name?

It's not required. But if the name is already registered as a trademark, the owner can send you a cease-and-desist letter, and you'll have to rename, often including your website and printed materials. So check that it's free before you start.

What you can do now

1. Choose your legal form with your tax adviser and your lawyer, and ask them directly what it means for a later sale.
2. If you're starting with others, sign a partnership agreement that covers who brings what, who decides and what happens if someone leaves.
3. Check with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office whether your name is free, and register it as a trademark. Online this costs €290 for up to three classes.

You have run a business for years

Whether your business is legally well set up usually only becomes clear when you sell, in a crisis or in a divorce.

How much will I keep if I sell?

That depends mainly on the structure. If you sell a sole proprietorship, you pay your personal tax rate on the profit, and relief is only available once in your life and only from the age of 55. If your holding GmbH sells its shares in your GmbH, 95% of the profit is tax-free, leaving an effective tax of around 1.5%. If you later take the money out privately, it's taxed again.

Can I set up the holding company shortly before the sale?

Then a seven-year holding period applies. If you sell within that time, part of the benefit is taxed retrospectively. So the holding company should be in place well before the sale.

What should I watch out for with an earn-out?

With an earn-out, you receive part of the purchase price later, depending on how the business performs after the sale. It's taxed when the money comes in. Before you sign, have someone calculate what this means for your tax.

What happens to my business in a divorce?

Without a prenuptial agreement, the increase in your business's value goes into the equalisation of accrued gains (Zugewinnausgleich), and that can mean paying out a very large sum. A prenuptial agreement can exclude business assets.

And if I'm out of action or money gets tight?

If you're out of action, someone needs a power of attorney to keep things running, and a private lasting power of attorney is often not enough for this. If the GmbH becomes insolvent, you as managing director must file for insolvency within three weeks at the latest, or you're personally liable.

What you can do now

1. If you're thinking about selling, even in a few years' time, have your tax adviser and lawyer review your structure now, so a holding company is in place in time.
2. If you're married, check whether your prenuptial agreement covers business assets.
3. Draw up a business power of attorney so someone can act if you're out of action.

You rent or buy a home

When it comes to housing, the most common disputes are about rent increases, service charges and notices to quit.

How much can my rent go up?

It can rise at most to the local reference rent (ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete), and by no more than 20% within three years. In many cities, the limit is 15%.

Do I have to accept every service charge statement?

No. The statement must reach you no later than twelve months after the end of the billing period. If it arrives later, you usually don't have to pay anything extra. You can raise objections up to twelve months after receiving it.

What can I do if I'm given notice because the landlord wants to use the home themselves?

Your landlord has to give specific reasons for their own need (Eigenbedarf). Depending on how long you've rented, you have three to nine months, and in cases of hardship you can object. Have the notice checked quickly. A tenants' association can help at low cost.

What should I look out for when buying?

The land register (Grundbuch) shows who owns the flat. If the two of you are buying, set out your shares in the purchase contract. And have the draft contract checked before the notary appointment, because the notary is neutral and doesn't represent your interests.

What you can do now

1. Check every rent increase and every service charge statement before you pay. A tenants' association can help at low cost.
2. If the two of you are buying, set out your shares in the purchase contract and have the draft checked before the notary appointment.

Are you thinking of buying property as an investment? What you should know about financing, returns and risks is covered under Building wealth.

You are separating

If you worked part-time for a long time during your marriage, you often have much less money and a smaller pension after a divorce. The law balances out some of this.

How long does it take to get divorced?

As a rule, you have to live apart for one year. During this time, you may be entitled to separation maintenance.

Will I get maintenance after the divorce?

Maintenance for yourself is usually only paid for a limited time, because since 2008 the principle of personal responsibility applies. Child maintenance is separate from this.

What happens to assets and pensions?

Any assets added during the marriage are shared out, and so are the pension rights built up during the marriage. For the years before and after, only what you paid in yourself counts.

Is our prenuptial agreement valid?

If it puts you at a one-sided disadvantage, it often won't hold up. Courts look especially closely if you gave up income for the family.

What you can do now

1. Get an overview of accounts, investment accounts, property, insurance policies and debts, and keep copies of the documents.
2. Request your insurance record from the German Pension Insurance so you know what rights you have.
3. Don't sign any agreement until your own specialist family lawyer has checked it, even if you both agree.

What changes for your taxes after a separation is covered under Taxes.

You live together without being married

If you're not married, the law gives you very little protection, no matter how long you've been together.

Do I inherit if my partner dies?

Without a will, you don't inherit. And even with a will, you pay much more inheritance tax than married couples.

Who owns our shared home?

It belongs to the person named in the land register. Who paid how much doesn't matter here, at least at first.

Who has custody of our child?

At first, only the mother does. You declare joint custody at the youth welfare office (Jugendamt).

What you can do now

1. Write wills so you inherit from each other, and get advice on inheritance tax.
2. If you buy together, have both of you entered in the land register and record in a cohabitation agreement who paid what.
3. If you have a child, make the joint custody declaration at the youth welfare office.

You want to get married

Without a prenuptial agreement, you live in the community of accrued gains (Zugewinngemeinschaft). What each of you had before the marriage stays yours, and what is added afterwards is shared out if you divorce. For many couples this works well.

When is a prenuptial agreement worth it?

A prenuptial agreement is worth it above all if one of you has or wants to start a business, if your assets are very unequal or if one of you will cut back at work for the family. The agreement can then, for example, set out compensation for pension provision.

How does it work?

A prenuptial agreement must be notarised, and the notary advises you both neutrally. If you want to know what the agreement means for you, ask your own lawyer a few weeks before the appointment.

What you can do now

1. Talk before the wedding about whether one of you has a business or will cut back at work.
2. If so, get advice from your own lawyer a few weeks before the notary appointment.

You are ill for a long time

If you're ill for a long time, deadlines start running with your employer and your health insurer. If you know them, you won't lose money or your job.

When do I have to call in sick?

Tell your employer straight away, ideally before work starts. If it lasts longer than three calendar days, you need a sick note by the following working day at the latest, and your employer may ask for it sooner. The practice sends it electronically, and your employer retrieves it from your health insurer.

How long will I keep getting paid?

Your employer keeps paying you for six weeks, as long as you've worked there for at least four weeks. After that, your health insurer pays sickness benefit: 70% of your gross salary, at most 90% of your net salary. For the same illness, you can receive it for up to 78 weeks within three years.

Can I be dismissed while I'm ill?

Yes, being ill doesn't protect you from dismissal. But if your employer dismisses you because of the illness, they have to show that you are likely to be absent often or for long periods in future and that the business suffers significantly as a result. Here too, you only have three weeks to challenge it.

What's a BEM meeting?

If you've been ill for more than six weeks within twelve months, in one go or added up, your employer has to offer you workplace reintegration management, known as BEM. Together you work out how you can return well. Taking part is voluntary. If your employer hasn't offered it, they'll find it much harder to defend a later dismissal on grounds of illness in court.

How do I return after a long illness?

With a gradual return to work, known as the Hamburg model: you start with a few hours and build up over several weeks. During this time, you keep receiving sickness benefit. Your doctor draws up the plan, and your employer and health insurer have to agree to it.

What happens when sickness benefit ends?

If your health insurer asks you to apply for rehabilitation, you have ten weeks to do so, otherwise your sickness benefit can stop. If sickness benefit ends and you still can't work, you'll often receive unemployment benefit, even if your employment contract continues. Register with the employment agency in good time.

What you can do now

1. Call in sick on the first day and get your sick note issued in time.
2. If your health insurer sends you a letter with a deadline, for example about rehabilitation, meet the deadline and, if in doubt, get advice from a lawyer specialising in social law or a social advice service.
3. Accept the BEM meeting if you're offered one, and bring suggestions for what would make your return easier.
4. If you're dismissed, call a specialist employment lawyer within the three weeks.

What sickness benefit means for your taxes and your financial protection is covered under Taxes and Building wealth.

You are starting a business alongside your job

Seven in ten new businesses start on the side, half of them with ten hours a week or less. For side-business founders, red tape is almost twice as often the biggest obstacle as for full-time founders (KfW, 2026).

Do I have to tell my employer?

Check your employment contract first. Many contracts say you have to report a side job or get it approved. In that case, get your employer's consent in writing. Competing directly with your employer usually isn't allowed.

What do I need to register, and where?

If you run a trade, you register it with the Gewerbeamt (trade office) before you start. Freelance professions such as consulting, writing or design don't need this. In both cases, you send the tax registration questionnaire to the tax office within one month, through ELSTER, the tax office's online portal. Signing up for ELSTER takes about two weeks, so apply early.

How am I covered for health insurance?

If your job remains your main occupation, you're usually still insured through it. Your health insurer decides whether your self-employment counts as your main or side occupation, based on time and income. Tell them about your new business and ask them to confirm how you're classified.

Can I get a development loan for a side business?

Yes. The ERP-Gründerkredit StartGeld from KfW is explicitly meant for side businesses as well. Read more under “You need money to get started”.

What you can do now

1. Check your employment contract and get written consent for your side job if you need it.
2. Apply for your ELSTER access before you start.
3. Register your trade before you start and send the tax registration questionnaire within one month.
4. Tell your health insurer and ask them to confirm your classification.

Whether the small business VAT exemption (Kleinunternehmerregelung) is right for you is covered under Taxes.

You want to know if your idea will work

The best time to find out whether anyone will pay for your idea is before you invest a lot of money.

How do I test my idea before I spend a lot of money?

Talk to people in your target group before you finish building your offer. Ask them what problem they have, what they pay to solve it today and what's missing. A small pilot offer or a pre-order tells you more than any survey, because you see whether people will actually pay.

Who exactly is my customer?

The more precisely you describe her, the easier she is to find. Think about her industry or situation, her specific problem and where she looks for information. “All women” or “small businesses” is too broad to advertise to in a targeted way.

Where do the first jobs come from?

Usually from your own network and from recommendations. Tell the people around you exactly what you offer and who it's for. Ask happy first customers for a recommendation or for feedback you're allowed to share.

Do I need a business plan?

For you, it's a tool to think through your idea, target group, prices and how much money you need. It becomes a must as soon as you want a development loan, the Gründungszuschuss (start-up subsidy for the unemployed) or money from investors. The IHK (chamber of commerce and industry) and the Handwerkskammer (chamber of crafts) offer free templates and advice.

What you can do now

1. Have five to ten conversations with people in your target group before you settle on your offer.
2. Describe your first customer in three sentences: who she is, what problem she has and where you can reach her.
3. Offer a pilot to your own network first.
4. Book an appointment with the start-up advice service at your IHK or Handwerkskammer.

You are setting your prices

Your price decides whether you can make a living from your business. You work it out from your costs.

How do I work out a price I can live on?

Start from your costs and leave aside what others charge. Add up your annual business costs, the salary you want to pay yourself, and your health insurance, pension savings and taxes. Divide the total by the hours you can realistically bill, because nobody pays you for finding clients, admin, holidays or sick days. The result is your minimum.

What if my price is higher than everyone else's?

First check that your calculation is right. Then look at what sets your offer apart. A price below your minimum won't work in the long run, even if it makes the first jobs easier to win. Packages or fixed prices often make the difference easier to understand than an hourly rate.

What's a BWA, and do I really need one?

The BWA (monthly business report) sums up your bookkeeping every month, with revenue, costs and result. It isn't required by law, but it shows you early on whether your price works and whether you can afford your salary. Banks ask for it when you apply for a loan. You get it from your bookkeeping software or from your tax adviser.

What you can do now

1. Write down your annual costs and the salary you want, including insurance and pension, and divide the total by your billable hours.
2. Check whether your current price is above this minimum.
3. Set up your bookkeeping so that you get a BWA every month.
4. Put a fixed date in your calendar each month to compare your BWA and bank balance with your plan.

How much you should set aside for tax is covered under Taxes.

You need money to get started

Many new businesses get by with little money. Still, more than four in ten business plans submitted to the IHKs have gaps in their financing (DIHK, 2026).

How much money do I need?

In 2025, 38% of founders started with €1,000 or less (KfW, 2026). What matters more than the amount is a plan that covers purchases, running costs until the first income comes in and your private expenses, with a buffer.

What development loans are there?

The most important starting point is the ERP-Gründerkredit StartGeld from KfW. It goes up to €200,000, is also available for side businesses and can be used up to five years after you start. KfW takes on 80% of your bank's risk, and you don't need any equity of your own. You apply through a bank, before you begin your project. The federal states also have their own development banks.

When do business angels or investors make sense?

Equity funding suits companies that are meant to grow fast and need a lot of money to do so. In return, you give up shares. For most service businesses and solo self-employed women, a development loan or your own money is the better route. At She Owns Day you can meet investors and other founders in the Founders Lounge.

Are there grants if I come from a university?

Yes, through EXIST. The EXIST start-up grant pays your living costs for up to one year, for example €2,500 a month if you have a degree, plus funds for materials and coaching. The start-up network at your university submits the application, and your idea has to be innovative.

What you can do now

1. Draw up a plan of how much capital you need, with purchases, running costs, private expenses and a buffer.
2. Talk to your bank about StartGeld before you sign or buy anything.
3. Be honest with yourself about whether your business needs equity funding or whether a loan is enough.
4. If you come from a university, ask its start-up service about EXIST.

You are starting a business with a child or on parental leave

Flexibility is the most important reason women give for starting a business. With a child and on parental leave, though, there are a few legal pitfalls.

Can I start a business while on parental leave?

Yes, but as an employee, you need your employer's consent. They can only refuse for urgent operational reasons, in writing and within four weeks. In total, you can work up to 32 hours a week during parental leave.

How does starting a business affect my Elterngeld?

For the self-employed, Elterngeld (parental allowance) is based on the profit from the calendar year before the birth. If you also ran a small side business alongside your job before the birth, the calendar year before the birth becomes the reference period for all your income, including your salary, and your Elterngeld may turn out different from what you expected. What you earn while receiving Elterngeld is counted against it.

Is there maternity protection for the self-employed?

As of October 2026, there's still no statutory maternity protection like the one employees have, although it's been announced for a long time. Today, you only get maternity benefit (Mutterschaftsgeld) if you have statutory health insurance that includes sickness benefit (Krankengeld), or private daily sickness allowance insurance that covers it.

How do I plan with little time?

Plan with the hours you actually have. An offer you can deliver in fixed blocks of time works better than one where you always have to be reachable. Agree early on who takes over at home and when.

What you can do now

1. If you want to start a business during parental leave, get your employer's consent in writing.
2. Before you start, ask the Elterngeldstelle (parental allowance office) to work out which period counts in your case.
3. Check that your health insurance includes sickness benefit or a daily sickness allowance before you get pregnant.
4. Decide how many hours a week you realistically have, and sort out childcare.

You are starting a business while unemployed

With the Gründungszuschuss, the order of steps matters. If you resign or start too early, you often lose it.

What's the Gründungszuschuss, and can I get it?

You can get it if you receive unemployment benefit, still have at least 150 days of entitlement left when you start, and work at least 15 hours a week on your business. You have no legal right to it: the employment agency decides case by case. For six months you get your unemployment benefit plus €300, and after that, if you apply, €300 a month for another nine months.

What do I need for the application?

An expert body such as the IHK, the Handwerkskammer or a start-up advice service has to confirm that your idea is viable. For this you need a business plan, a financing plan and a revenue forecast. The employment agency doesn't cover the cost of this expert opinion.

Can I resign and then start with the subsidy?

That's risky. If you resign yourself, you've caused your own unemployment, and funding is then usually not possible. Talk to the employment agency first.

And if I receive Grundsicherung?

Then the Jobcenter can pay you Einstiegsgeld (a start-up allowance on top of Grundsicherung, Germany's basic income support) for up to 24 months. Here, too, the Jobcenter decides case by case.

What you can do now

1. Check whether you'll still have at least 150 days of unemployment benefit left on your planned start date.
2. Talk to the employment agency before you resign and before you start.
3. Prepare a business plan, financing plan and revenue forecast and present them to an expert body.
4. If you receive Grundsicherung, ask the Jobcenter about Einstiegsgeld.

You are hiring your first employee

A quarter of founders already had staff in 2025 (KfW, 2026). The first employment contract brings reporting duties, and the time you spend on red tape rises considerably.

What do I have to do before my first employee starts?

You need an establishment number (Betriebsnummer) from the Federal Employment Agency, even for minijobs. You register employees with their health insurer, and minijobbers with the Minijob-Zentrale (central minijob office). You also register your company with the relevant Berufsgenossenschaft (statutory accident insurer).

Minijob, part-time or freelancer?

A minijob is often the easiest way to start. Freelancers keep you more flexible, but you have to make sure they aren't fully integrated into your business and don't take instructions from you. Otherwise you risk Scheinselbstständigkeit (bogus self-employment).

Can I afford it?

Expect to pay more than the gross wage. Add the employer's share of social security, accident insurance, time off and your own time for training. Your BWA shows you whether your current results can carry the cost.

What you can do now

1. Apply for your establishment number at the Federal Employment Agency.
2. Find out which Berufsgenossenschaft is responsible for you and register your company there.
3. Compare the total cost of the position with your BWA.

What you need to know legally about freelancers and employment contracts is covered under Law.

You are ill for a long time

When you're self-employed, nobody pays you for the days you're ill. You have to protect yourself, and do it before it happens.

Do I get sickness benefit as a self-employed person?

With statutory health insurance, only if you explicitly choose it. You then pay the general contribution rate instead of the reduced one and receive sickness benefit from the 43rd day. You're bound by this choice for three years.

And the first six weeks?

Only an optional add-on plan (Wahltarif) from your health insurer or private daily sickness allowance insurance covers them. If you have private health insurance, you need a daily sickness allowance in your policy, and you decide yourself from which day it pays.

How much cover do I need?

Enough to keep your fixed costs going, both private and business. Work out the minimum you need each month and choose your daily sickness allowance accordingly. The later the payments start, the cheaper the premium, but the bigger your cushion needs to be.

What you can do now

1. If you have statutory health insurance, submit the declaration for sickness benefit to your health insurer.
2. Check whether your savings would get you through the first six weeks. If not, take out an add-on plan or a daily sickness allowance.
3. Decide who will inform your clients in an emergency and who has access to your accounts and passwords.

What you're legally entitled to when you're ill as an employee is covered under Law.

You are negotiating your salary

Almost two in three employees (64%) feel uncomfortable in salary negotiations (Stepstone, 2025). Good preparation helps you go in with more confidence.

Is it true that women ask for more money less often?

No. In Germany, women and men ask equally often, with 63% asking at least once a year. The difference is in the outcome: 54% of women get the pay rise, compared with 59% of men (Stepstone, 2019). A large study from Australia shows the same pattern (Artz et al., 2018).

Why does asking still feel risky?

Because the risk is real. In experiments, women who negotiated for themselves were more often rated as unlikeable than men who made the same demand. Being careful is an understandable reaction, and there are ways of phrasing your request that reduce this risk.

How do I make the case for what I'm asking for?

Frame your request in terms of your working relationship. In one study, two sentences helped women get more while still coming across as likeable. One was that their manager had advised them to raise the topic. The other was that negotiating well is a skill they bring to the job. Name a specific figure and back it up with your results and market data.

Does preparing help if the problem is in the system?

Yes. An analysis of 51 studies shows that when women know how much room there is to negotiate, their disadvantage disappears (Mazei et al., 2015).

What you can do now

1. Collect your results in numbers and use them, together with the market, to arrive at a specific figure.
2. Prepare one sentence that frames your request in terms of your working relationship.
3. Practise the conversation out loud until you feel confident.

Whether you're entitled to find out what your colleagues earn is covered under Law.

You talk about your achievements

Whether in your annual review, a job application or while networking: if you don't make your work visible, it's easy to overlook.

Why do I find it hard to present my performance well?

You're not alone, and it's not because you don't know how well you did. In a large study, women rated their own performance clearly lower than men with the same result, even after they knew their result. Many of us learned early on that modesty goes down better in women, and that pattern still has an effect.

How do I talk about achievements without bragging?

Stick to the facts: what you did, what came out of it and how you can tell, for example from a figure, feedback from clients or a deadline that was met. Say “I” when it was you and “we” when it was the team. A factual description doesn't come across as bragging. It makes it easy for others to see the value of your work.

How do I keep track of my achievements?

Keep a simple list where you note down every week what went well, with the date and the result. Before your annual review, a job application or a salary negotiation, you then have everything in one place and don't have to rely on memory.

What you can do now

1. Start a list of achievements and add three things that went well this week.
2. For each point, note how the result can be seen.
3. Take the list with you to your next annual review.

How to turn this into a salary request is covered under You are negotiating your salary.

You say no

Many tasks at work are important but hardly count towards promotion, such as taking minutes, organising the Christmas party or onboarding new colleagues.

Why do these tasks end up with me so often?

That's no coincidence. In experiments by the economists Linda Babcock and Lise Vesterlund, women volunteered for such tasks more often, and they were also asked more often, by men and women alike. So it's down to expectations, not to you.

How do I say no without straining the relationship?

Thank the person for asking, say no clearly and give a short reason, such as a project that has priority right now. If you want to help, offer a smaller alternative, for example a template instead of organising the whole thing. A friendly, clear no usually goes down better than a hesitant yes that you take back later.

What do I do if my manager asks me?

Ask what should be put on hold instead. Then they decide what has priority, and you don't have to do the extra task on top of everything else. Also suggest that such tasks rotate within the team.

What you can do now

1. Write down which extra tasks you're taking on at the moment and which of them count for your development.
2. Next time, say a friendly no or offer a smaller alternative.
3. If your manager asks, ask back what should be put on hold, and suggest rotating such tasks.

You speak in meetings

Who talks how much depends a lot on the rules of the game. In a study of 94 groups, the gap in speaking time disappeared as soon as everyone had to agree to a decision (Karpowitz et al., 2012).

Is it my fault that I get less time to speak?

No. At the German Geography Congress in 2019, men took 61% of the speaking time in discussions, even though almost half of the speakers were women (Aufenvenne et al., 2021). Patterns like this come from the situation, and your personality has little to do with them.

What helps when I get interrupted?

Keep talking and name it calmly, for example with “Let me just finish this thought.” If you're leading the meeting, set ground rules, such as a round in which everyone speaks before the discussion starts.

Is it worth speaking up first?

Yes. In academic seminars, women asked fewer questions when a man had asked the first one. If you speak early, you change who speaks after you, and that includes other women in the room.

What you can do now

1. For your next meeting, prepare something to say in the first few minutes.
2. Have a sentence ready for when you get interrupted.
3. Suggest a round in which everyone speaks before the discussion starts.

You respond to put-downs and stupid remarks

A joke about your looks, a “you wouldn't understand” or a comment in front of everyone: you don't have to come back with a quick-witted reply, but you're allowed to respond.

How do I respond to a belittling remark?

Calmly name what happened and stay on topic, for example with “I don't think that's appropriate. Back to the topic.” You don't have to justify yourself or counter with a joke of your own. A short, calm reply shows everyone in the room that you noticed the remark and are carrying on with the conversation.

And if I don't say anything in the moment?

That's fine. You can talk to the person privately later and say what bothered you and what you'd like in future. Note down the date, the situation and the exact words, especially if it happens more often.

What applies if it's sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment at work is prohibited under the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). You can complain to your employer, and your employer has to protect you, even if the harassment comes from clients, customers or patients. Many people are affected: in one study, 13% of working women had experienced sexual harassment at work in the previous three years, more than half of it from customers or other third parties (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, 2019). You can get free advice from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency.

What you can do now

1. Prepare a calm sentence you can use to name a remark and return to the topic.
2. If you didn't say anything in the moment, talk to the person privately later.
3. Note down the date, the situation and the exact words. In the case of sexual harassment, complain to your employer or get advice from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency.

You stand up for yourself in everyday life

At the garage, with your landlord, at the bank or at the doctor's: how you come across often helps decide what you get.

Do I get quoted different prices than men?

Sometimes. In a US study, garages quoted women higher prices than men when they said they didn't know the usual price. When they named a realistic price, the difference disappeared. And when women asked for a discount, they actually got one more often than men.

How do I prepare for a conversation like this?

Find out the usual price or your rights beforehand, for example from comparison sites, a consumer advice centre or your tenancy agreement. In the conversation, say what you know and ask for a discount or for written confirmation. If you show that you know what you're talking about, you're treated differently.

What do I do if I'm not taken seriously at the doctor's?

Write down beforehand which symptoms you've had and since when, and what you want to ask, and take the list with you. Ask for your symptoms to be documented, and ask why an examination isn't necessary. You can get a second opinion from another doctor at any time and bring someone with you.

What you can do now

1. Before your next conversation with a garage, bank or landlord, find out the usual price or your rights.
2. In the conversation, say what you know and ask for a discount.
3. Take a list of your symptoms and questions with you to the doctor's.

You meet people for the first time

At events, while networking or in a new job, you make contacts who may open doors for you later.

How do I introduce myself?

With your name, what you do and one sentence on what you're working on right now or what interests you. That gives the other person something to pick up on. Practise these two or three sentences out loud beforehand, so they come out smoothly even in a crowd.

How do I start a conversation if I don't know anyone?

Join people who are standing on their own or an open group, and ask about something you're both experiencing, for example the last talk. Good questions get you further than clever statements. At the end, ask whether they'd like to stay in touch, and note down what you talked about.

Is it calculating to use contacts for your career?

Many women feel that way, as an interview study with women leaders in large companies shows. But networks are built on give and take. You may ask for advice or a recommendation and help others in the same way, and if you never ask, you take away other people's chance to help.

What you can do now

1. Write two or three sentences to introduce yourself, and practise them out loud.
2. At the next event, first approach people standing on their own, and ask about the shared experience.
3. This week, ask someone in your network for advice or a recommendation.

You can find suitable networks under Networks.

You are changing jobs

When you change jobs, your salary is negotiated from scratch. That's your chance of a bigger jump than with a pay rise in your current job.

How do I know what the job is worth?

Only one in eight job ads in Germany states a salary (Indeed Hiring Lab, 2026). The Entgeltatlas (pay atlas) of the Federal Employment Agency gives you a first idea. It shows median salaries by profession, region, age and gender. In the interview, also ask about the salary range planned for the position.

Does it matter whether it's clear that I can negotiate?

A lot. In an experiment with around 2,500 applicants, the gap between women and men disappeared as soon as the job ad said the salary was negotiable (Leibbrandt and List, 2015). You can create this clarity yourself by asking how much room there is for the position.

Do I have to tell them my current salary?

In Germany, the question isn't yet explicitly banned. The EU Pay Transparency Directive is meant to change that, but it hasn't been transposed into national law yet. You can steer the question towards what you expect for the new role. That depends on the position and the market, and your old contract has nothing to do with it.

What you can do now

1. Look up your profession and region in the Entgeltatlas and use it to arrive at your figure.
2. Ask about the salary range and the room for negotiation in the interview.
3. Prepare a sentence that steers the talk from your current salary to what you expect for the new role.

At She Owns Day, you can talk directly to hiring companies in the Corporate Lounge.

You are self-employed and negotiating prices

Just over four in ten solo self-employed people are women (WSI, 2025). Underpricing is widespread across the market, not an exception.

Am I the exception with my low prices?

No. In a survey of more than 3,600 solo self-employed people, more than one in three jobs paid less than the recommended fee for the profession, and only 7% paid more (Haus der Selbstständigen, 2022).

What do I gain from knowing reference prices?

A lot. People who know how much room there is negotiate better, and studies show that women then even do better than men. Your reference points are the fee recommendations of your professional association or an official fee schedule.

I find it easier to negotiate for others than for myself. Can I use that?

Yes, and the evidence is strong. When women negotiate on behalf of others, they get better results. As a business owner, you negotiate for your business, your team and the quality your clients receive. That's not a pretext: it's exactly what you're doing.

When do I raise my prices?

Plan it in advance instead of waiting for the right moment. Announce the increase with a date and a reason, for example higher costs or a broader offer. That way your clients can plan.

What you can do now

1. Look up the fee recommendation of your professional association and compare it with your rate.
2. Write your next quote from your business's point of view, for example “For this result, we charge …”.
3. Set a date for your next price increase and announce it with a reason.

How to work out a price you can live on is covered under Starting a business.

You want to be visible as an expert

There are plenty of women experts. But newsrooms under time pressure call the people they already know.

How do I get onto the lists that newsrooms use?

By being easy to find before the request comes in. Sign up for databases of women experts, such as speakerinnen.org, and say in one sentence exactly what you can be quoted on. Newsrooms search by topic, and nobody reads your CV.

Does LinkedIn really help?

Yes, if people find you. Recruiters are 13% less likely to click on women's profiles in their searches than on men's (LinkedIn, 2019). A clear professional title in your headline and regular posts of your own on one topic make you easier to find.

How do I prepare for an interview?

Decide on two or three key messages that you'll get across whatever the question. Newsrooms quote short, clear sentences, and anyone who was easy to quote once gets asked again.

What you can do now

1. Write one sentence about what you can be quoted on as an expert and put it in your LinkedIn headline.
2. Sign up for a database of women experts, such as speakerinnen.org.
3. Before every interview, write down two or three key messages.

You are on stage

At large German tech conferences, just under three in ten speakers were women in 2019 (Berlin School of Business and Innovation, 2020). Stage slots are handed out through networks and visibility.

How do I get on a stage in the first place?

Organisers often look for speakers at short notice, and they ask the people they can find with a topic and a short bio. speakerinnen.org helps with this and also shows which events hardly invite any women.

What does the Q&A after my talk do for me?

More than you might think. After talks by women, more women join the discussion, and when a woman asks the first question, more women speak up afterwards. If you pick the first question yourself, you shape the whole round.

What you can do now

1. Write a talk topic and a three-sentence bio and make both easy to find.
2. At your next talk, deliberately choose who asks the first question from the audience.

You are returning from parental leave

Mothers plan for almost 15 months of Elterngeld (parental allowance) on average, fathers for just under four (Federal Statistical Office, 2026). So the conversation about returning to work is usually one that women have.

Can I come back part-time and increase my hours later?

In companies with more than 45 employees, you can apply for Brückenteilzeit (temporary part-time). You reduce your hours for one to five years and then go back to your old hours. If you reduce your hours permanently without Brückenteilzeit, you have no right to increase them again later.

What do I discuss in the return-to-work meeting?

Agree on your tasks, hours and salary before you come back, and put everything in writing. Also ask what pay rises there were in your team while you were away, so you know what you're negotiating about.

What you can do now

1. Check whether your company has more than 45 employees, and apply for your reduced hours as Brückenteilzeit.
2. Ask in writing about the pay rises during your parental leave.
3. After the meeting, put your tasks, hours and salary in writing.

Your rights around parental leave and protection against dismissal are covered under Law.

You want to move up

Women ask for a promotion just as often as men. What is often missing is specific feedback that makes the case for the next level.

My feedback is always good, but I'm not moving up. Why?

In reviews, women get specific feedback on their results less often, both in praise and on what's still missing. “You're doing a great job” won't get you far in a promotion round. So ask directly which two results you still need for the next level.

How do I negotiate for my team?

With confidence, because studies show women are especially successful when they negotiate for others. Budget, positions and salaries for your team are exactly that kind of situation, and the same preparation also helps you with your own position.

What you can do now

1. Ask your manager which two results you still need for the next level.
2. Bring your results in numbers to the conversation about your promotion.