Bank account or EMI that lets a freelancer / sole proprietor use a business name (trade name) instead of personal name?

[daniels27]

Actually, there is one more option which works if you are German. There was this guy Gregor Janecke. You can see his bank cards here:
https://www.deutscheskonto.org/de/bank/meine-privaten-konten/
He was such a good bank client that he decided to use Richard Banks as Künstlername (alias) as he explains here:
https://www.deutscheskonto.org/de/fan/markenname/
And see, he now has cards with his new name:
https://www.deutscheskonto.org/de/dauerauftrag-dkb-visa-card/

In case you are German, you may want to get a new passport with Bella Italia or Fleus Fabuleux or whatever as Künstlername.

@JohnnyDoe it is not possible to use Deutsche Telekom as alias.
https://praxistipps.focus.de/kuenstlernamen-eintragen-lassen-das-sind-die-voraussetzungen_162525

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

this is nonsense as the Künstlername has been abolished by law some time ago!

 

[daniels27]

SCHLOSSFINANZ said:
this is nonsense as the Künstlername has been abolished by law some time ago!
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Yes, I can confirm that it has been abolished on 1 November 2007.

But then reactivated 3 years later.
https://www.firma.de/unternehmensfuehrung/kuenstlername-beantragen-so-gehts/

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

it has been abolished as it can not be anymore entered in your passport. You are not up to date

 

[daniels27]

I guess, then only darks can help.

 

[daniels27]

SCHLOSSFINANZ said:
it has been abolished as it can not be anymore entered in your passport. You are not up to date
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Not sure where this information is from. I called 03338 365258 and then can still do it.

 

[JustAnotherNomad]

Google says you may be able to register a company name even as a sole proprietorship, it's called "Eingetragenen Kaufmann":

https://lawyersgermany.com/setting-up-a-sole-trader-in-germany/

Maybe you can use this? Not sure if there are any tax implications, you'll want to check with your accountant.

 

[Mister M]

JustAnotherNomad said:
Google says you may be able to register a company name even as a sole proprietorship, it's called "Eingetragenen Kaufmann":

https://lawyersgermany.com/setting-up-a-sole-trader-in-germany/

Maybe you can use this? Not sure if there are any tax implications, you'll want to check with your accountant.
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Yes, exactly this! You are able to use any business name. Notice that there is a difference between sole proprietorship without a registration in the official business registry, and being a "Eingetragener Kaufmann (e.K.)", which needs a notary appointment in order to be listed in the official business registry.
Seems like the perfect solution for you.

Please notice that all other options will be limited in the upcoming months because of mandatory SEPA Name checks on outgoing transfers. Your clients will then see the name of the bank account you are using, so just using a different name on the invoice wont be enough.

 

[daniels27]

Yes, but what about the Entstrickungssteuer when he moves out?
https://www.juhn.com/fachwissen/internationales-steuerrecht/entstrickungssteuer/

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

sorry guys this advice is nonsense lol. Nobody would be so stupid to run an e.K. with UNLIMITED liabilite in one of the most bureaucratic and tax heavy countries on the planet

 

[daniels27]

SCHLOSSFINANZ said:
sorry guys this advice is nonsense lol. Nobody would be so stupid to run an e.K. with UNLIMITED liabilite in one of the most bureaucratic and tax heavy countries on the planet
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Yes, it really does not make sense. But... He is doing the business without e.K. now.

 

[OffshoreDude]

Mister M said:
Please notice that all other options will be limited in the upcoming months because of mandatory SEPA Name checks on outgoing transfers. Your clients will then see the name of the bank account you are using, so just using a different name on the invoice wont be enough.
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Does that also affect the Dutch EMI account another user recommended in this thread? They allow to use an alias. And the new SEPA name check seems to be only checking against the name an account is registered to, if it is matching. And if that Dutch EMI ("Yoursafe") opens and operates your account under the chosen alias name, a transfer made to the alias name's account should pass the new name check, as it would match ..

 

[daniels27]

OffshoreDude said:
Does that also affect the Dutch EMI account another user recommended in this thread? They allow to use an alias. And the new SEPA name check seems to be only checking against the name an account is registered to, if it is matching. And if that Dutch EMI ("Yoursafe") opens and operates your account under the chosen alias name, a transfer made to the alias name's account should pass the new name check, as it would match ..
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That one and the e.K. one works.

If you want my personal advice, leave Germany and be happy elsewhere.

 

[OffshoreDude]

daniels27 said:
If you want my personal advice, leave Germany and be happy elsewhere.
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Yes, I plan to do now, but not now, only in 2 to 3 years. Before that I need to get some funds with my business to be able to leave. At the moment, going to Cyprus is my first choice, but I'm a bit nervous that their non-dome status may be not in place anymore when I finally can leave.

 

[daniels27]

Then ask @Hydrox if you can stay at his place for 2 years!

 

[GPT]

Normally these things are possible as long as there is some documents supporting you using that business name. A sole proprietor also registers as such and in many countries around the world you can then add a name. On your bank statements and on the statements of the other parties it most often shows up as "John Smith doing business under XYZ.com" or something similar.

 

[Hydrox]

daniels27 said:
Then ask @Hydrox if you can stay at his place for 2 years!
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My house is already full with some lovely cats unfortunately.