Doing Business in Germany

- Long lead times are expected generally and it is not appropriate to request appointments from large organisations at short notice.

- Don't assume English language skills. Export managers will be able to cope, but the level of language ability in Germany is not that of Scandinavia or the Benelux, although better than France, Italy and Spain. All products should be labelled in German.

- Cars are the most popular means of transport and Germany's famous highway system is extensive. The condition of roads in eastern Germany may still not reach western German standards, but they are no barrier to traveling.

- Geographic distances are relatively short but as Germany is much more densely populated than its European neighbors, it may take a little longer to travel the same distance in the FRG than it may take in France or Scandinavia. Especially the industrial and commercial centers in the Rhine-Main (Frankfurt) and Rhine-Ruhr areas are densely populated and heavily industrialized, and business travelers are well advised to plan on timely departures to reach their destination in time. Train and air travel are also efficient means of travel, with timely and comprehensive connections between all major and many minor cities throughout both eastern and western Germany.

Travel Considerations

Visas
EU citizens can enter on an official identity card. Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and Japanese just need a valid passport (no visa). Except for people from a handful of other European countries, everyone else must have a visa.

Approx. Cost for Visitors

Budget meal: US$ 5 - 10
Mid-range restaurant: US$ 15 - 30

Budget hotel: US$ 20 - 40
Mid-range hotel: US$ 50 - 100 (Double)

Other Travel Considerations

- With the monetary restructuring caused by reunification now easing, inflation has fallen and the Deutschmark is relatively stable against most other European currencies. - It's easy to spend lots of money in Germany. If you've got some sort of rail pass and restrict yourself to cheap takeaways and preparation of your own food, it's possible to get by on less than US$50 a day. Those with more capacious wallets, wishing to eat at restaurants most days, to travel freely by public transport and to stay in hotels with fluffy duvets should count on dropping at least US$100 a day.

- All the major international brands of plastic - MasterCard, Visa and American Express - are recognized but not yet widely accepted, except at major hotels, gas stations and department stores. Don't assume that you'll be able to use your card to pay for meals. ATMs are ubiquitous throughout Germany and you should have no problem accessing your credit or debit account back home. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and special exchange shops in large towns.

- Tips are not normally given or expected, but a customer can tip for excellent service.

General Business Hours

Office hours are generally from 08:00 - 17:00 hrs from Monday to Thursday.
Most businesses close early on Fridays and it is difficult to arrange
appointments on Friday afternoons. Banking hours are generally 9:00 - 13:00
and 14:30 - 16:30 from Monday to Friday. Some large shops are open from
09:00 - 20:00 hrs five days a week and until 16:00 hrs on Saturday afternoons.
All shops are generally closed on Sundays.


Usual Holidays and Festivals

January 1 New Years Day
January 6 Epiphany (Holy Three Kings Day)
April 2 Good Friday
April 5 Easter Monday
May 1 German Labor Day
May 13 Ascension Day
June 6 Corpus Christi Day
August 15 Assumption Day
October 3 Day of German Unity
October 31 Reformation Day
November 1 All Saints Day
November 18 Repentance Day
December 25 Christmas
December 26 Second Christmas Day

The above may apply selectively to some states.

Some Useful Sources of Information

Markets and Sectors
http://tradeport.org/ts/countries/germany/sectors.html
http://www.wirtschaft-online.de/um/in.html
Market Access
http://www.tradeport.org/ts/countries/germany/market.html
http://www.germany-info.org/nf_gic/index_business_economy.html

Investment Climate
http://www.tradeport.org/ts/countries/germany/climate.html
Online Business Contacts IDMNET.net - Database and marketplace with
companies from Germany and Switzerland
http://www.idmnet.net/

German-Business-Net
http://www.german-business.de/

German Customs
http://www.zollkriminalamt.de/gb/index.htm