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Every German GmbH has a Handelsregisternummer (HRB) filed at the local Amtsgericht. It is the single most reliable proof the company legally exists.
Verification steps
- Read the HRB from the supplier's Impressum
- Search it on unternehmensregister.de (free, official)
- Confirm "eingetragen" and not "in Auflösung" (liquidation)
- Cross-check the managing directors named
USt-IdNr check
Validate the VAT ID (USt-IdNr) via the EU VIES system - a valid ID confirms the company is VAT-registered for cross-border trade.
Red flags
- No HRB or HRB that returns nothing
- Different named directors than the Impressum
- "Briefkasten" address only
- Refuses to share USt-IdNr
About the Author: Arshiya Sabaghi is the founder of German Industry Hub. With an MSc in Sales Management and experience at McKinsey & Company (Industrial AI), Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and AkkoNobel, he connects international buyers with verified German manufacturers. Based in Amsterdam. Native German, English, Dutch, and Persian.