[alicelthwaite]

Hi there - I'm the author of this piece. I don't actually speak German. I'm trying to improve - however, I wouldn't say it's required in Germany to start something on your own. Many of the meetups are in English and everyone I've spoken to is fluent. I think it's another story if you're trying to get a job though...

[k__]

Yes, the hardest thing is probably to get a flat and register a business without speaking German and these are one time things, no ongoing stuff.

The start-up scene speaks English fluently and buying stuff etc. doesn't need much talking.

The start-up I work with has 2 employees who don't speak German at all and they say it's only a problem when they are in smaller villages.

[allendoerfer]

Registering a business is literally going to the "Gewerbeamt" and answering their questions about what you want to do. You will then be contacted by the tax authorities. I would then just search for a tax adviser, who speaks English.

If you want to incorporate a business, you do not necessarily have to do it in Germany, it is the EU after all.

[k__]

Ah sure, yes I forgot that you can create a company in the UK and simply run it from Berlin without much hassle.

[petre]

Why not start a business in Central or South Eastern Europe? Most cities are even cheaper than Berlin and still open to young people. Plus people are fluent in Englush, except maybe in Hungary.

[uola]

Generally the cities tend to be too small, too expensive (for what you get) or not international enough. More than anything "even cheaper" doesn't necessarily matter, around €750 is pretty much the sweet spot in terms of cost of living. Ljubljana seems pretty nice though.

[sotojuan]

People want to move to Berlin and the city has a great tech scene from what I can gather.