30,000€ for a day at the notary: Germany makes itself a “laughingstock”

▤ Summary

The article examines a viral debate about the cost and delay of notary appointments for company formation and investment agreements in Germany. It says founders and investors complain that the process is slow, expensive, and outdated compared with digital incorporation models. It also explains how German notary fees are calculated and notes that the reported 30,000-euro example likely involved a much larger financing-related transaction. The piece then contrasts Germany’s current system with the proposed EU Inc. framework, which would let founders register companies online within 48 hours and at low cost. It closes by arguing that legal certainty must be preserved while making startup formation and investing simpler.

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