How to Build a Successful Freelance Business in Germany as an American

We’re Moving to Europe Substack

We’re Moving to Europe Community

https://www.eleanormayrhofer.com/entreprenuership-in-germany
https://thegermanylist.de/the-germany-expat-business-show-podcast/

What does it really take to start over in a new country and build a business from scratch in Germany?

In this episode, host Casey Kelly sits down with Eleanor Mayrhofer, who moved from the US to Germany on a whim after a friend invited her to start a business. What followed was a crash course in entrepreneurship, networking, visas, language barriers, and cultural integration.

Eleanor shares the realities of navigating German work permits, understanding local business regulations, and building a professional network without speaking fluent German. She explains how a government support program helped her transition into freelancing, breaks down the German public and private healthcare systems, and highlights the power of the vibrant expat community.

Whether you're dreaming of launching a business abroad or simply curious about life as an entrepreneur in Germany, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest lessons from the front lines.

00:00 Joining expat groups vs integrating long term
01:03 Welcome + show intro (Casey’s move to Portugal)
01:34 Meet Eleanor Mayrhofer (US-born marketer in Germany since 1999)
01:59 How Eleanor ended up in Germany (a “big accident”)
03:14 The beer garden moment: “Let’s start a business”
04:24 Reality check: no network, no German, no plan
05:26 First job lead through networking (and visa stress)
06:08 Getting paid under the table while waiting on permits
06:43 Munich’s early web boom and the hiring wave
07:08 Landing at Sapient and finally getting the paperwork sorted
08:11 How timing and luck played a role (tourist visa extensions)
08:45 From corporate stability to going independent
09:15 Why “network is everything” when you start freelancing
10:29 Government support for founders: Gründerzuschuss explained
11:35 Germany’s healthcare: public vs private (what expats should know)
14:36 Being covered in the US: the $100k hospital story
16:11 Sponsor break: We’re Moving to Europe membership community
17:05 Does Germany really support entrepreneurs? Yes and no
17:19 KSK (artists’ social insurance) + freelancer reality math
18:26 Taxes, cash flow, and admin: the bureaucracy challenge
20:12 Choosing English vs German as your business language
20:32 Scaling, niches, and early business mistakes (printables)
21:46 Avoiding extra complexity: why a US LLC backfired
22:18 German business structures (GmbH/UG) + today’s tools/resources
23:30 Biggest upsides of self-employment: autonomy and flexibility
24:31 Advice for newcomers: side hustles, compliance, and pipeline
26:41 Networking culture in Germany (English-friendly ecosystems)
27:51 Startup scenes, meetups, and where connections happen
29:38 Expat community in Munich: evolving beyond the “bubble”
31:38 There’s never been a better time: creators, groups, accelerators
33:27 Eleanor’s podcast + where to find her (Germany List)
34:31 Wrap-up + credits (Producer/Editor: Magdalena Laas)

Production team

Host and Researcher: Casey Kelly – We’re Moving to Europe

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas – Unscripted Creatives

Sound library

All the music was composed especially for the We’re Moving to Europe podcast by Sage Barton. Copyright 2025, Sage Barton.