Firmen

Firmen is the German plural form of Firma, referring to business enterprises in general. In everyday language, a Firma denotes a company or business entity, while in a legal sense it also designates the registered trade name under which the business operates. In German-speaking countries, the firm name is registered in the commercial registry (Handelsregister) and is protected as the official identifying mark of the business. The name often, but not always, includes the legal form of the company (such as GmbH, AG, OHG, KG).

Germany and other German-speaking jurisdictions recognize several legal forms for firms. Common forms include Einzelunternehmen (sole proprietorship), GbR (civil-law partnership), OHG (general partnership), KG (limited partnership), GmbH (limited liability company), UG (Unternehmergesellschaft, a form of quasi-GmbH with lower capital requirements), and AG (joint-stock corporation). Each form has distinct rules on formation, governance, liability, and capital requirements. Management structures vary: GmbH and UG are typically run by managing directors (Geschäftsführer); AG operates with a Vorstand (executive board) and, in many cases, a supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat). Liability generally ranges from unlimited in sole proprietorships to limited to company assets for corporations and certain partnerships.

Firms contribute to the economy through production, employment, taxation, and innovation. They are subject to accounting, financial reporting, and regulatory requirements, including corporate income tax, trade tax, and value-added tax, with audit or disclosure obligations depending on size and legal form.