Structure quiz — standalone or holding? | Delegro
Answer 6 quick questions and Delly tells you whether a standalone company or a holding structure fits your business — and why.
Structure quiz — standalone or holding? | Delegro
Answer 6 quick questions and Delly tells you whether a standalone company or a holding structure fits your business — and why.
Hi! 6 quick questions and I'll tell you exactly which structure fits you. Think about the next 3–5 years, not just right now.
This is general information to help you compare the options — not legal or tax advice, and not an assessment of your situation. Before you decide, talk to a Steuerberater or Rechtsanwalt.
Are you building one business, or do you plan to run multiple?
Think big picture — where do you see yourself in a few years?
Are you a freelancer or solo founder building one thing?
Freelancers and solo operators rarely need a holding structure.
Yes — I work independently or run one focused operation
No — I'm building something with a team or partners
Are you raising investment or bringing in co-founders at different levels?
A holding structure makes it easy to give equity in individual subsidiaries without touching the parent company.
No — ownership is simple, just me (or a small group)
Yes — different people will own stakes in different parts
Possibly — I'm still working out the ownership structure
Do you want to sell the business one day and keep the proceeds in a tax-efficient wrapper?
If you sell a subsidiary, the proceeds land in the holding company and can be reinvested without personal income tax.
Yes — I'm building to sell and want to protect the proceeds
Maybe — I haven't thought that far ahead
Do you have assets you want to protect from business risk?
Valuable assets — cash, real estate, IP — can sit safely in the holding company, shielded from the operating company's risks.
No — I don't have significant assets to protect
Yes — I have assets I want to keep separate from my business
How important is speed and simplicity right now?
A standalone company is faster and cheaper to set up. A holding structure takes more steps upfront but pays off as you grow.
Speed is everything — I want to get started as fast as possible
I want to get it right — happy to invest a bit more time upfront
Your answers point toward the things founders usually weigh when they consider a holding: a parent company owning one or more subsidiaries. Founders typically look at this setup for asset separation, for flexibility when bringing in investors, and for selling part of a business without selling all of it. Whether it fits your situation — and what it means for your tax position — is a question for a Steuerberater.
Here's what a holding structure involves — have a look and see what you think.
Either could work — it depends on your plans
You're right in the middle. You could start with a standalone company now and restructure into a holding later — or go straight to a holding if you're thinking long-term. A short call with an adviser is probably the fastest way to work it out.
You're right in the middle — let's get you a bit more guidance before deciding.
A single company owned directly by you is the simpler setup: faster to start, lower running costs, less structure to maintain. Many founders begin here and look at a holding later if their situation changes. Whether that's the right call for you is worth a short conversation with an adviser.
Here's what a standalone company involves.
a holding company keeps them cleanly separated under one parent.
no need for a parent company when you have one operation.
a standalone structure keeps things lean and fast.
a holding makes it easy to give equity in individual subsidiaries without touching the parent.
a standalone company is all you need when ownership stays straightforward.
proceeds from a subsidiary sale land in the holding company tax-efficiently.
valuable assets sit safely in the holding, shielded from operating risk.
No significant assets to protect right now
a standalone structure keeps things simple.
a standalone company gets you incorporated faster with less complexity upfront.
investing time in a holding structure now pays off as you grow.
A standalone GmbH or UG is a single legal entity owned directly by you (or your co-founders). It's the simplest way to operate a business in Germany.
You own shares in the company directly. Simple, clean, no extra layers.
One formation, one notary appointment, one registration. You're up and running quickly.
No parent company means less formation work and lower fees.
If your plans change, you can insert a holding company later — it just takes an extra step.
A holding company is a parent entity that owns one or more subsidiary companies. It doesn't operate a business itself — it owns and controls the companies that do.
Valuable assets — cash, IP, real estate — sit in the holding, safe from the operating company's risks.
Dividends paid between subsidiaries and the holding are largely tax-free. Reinvest without personal tax.
Sell a subsidiary and the proceeds land in the holding company, ready to reinvest.
Give investors or co-founders equity in individual subsidiaries without touching the parent.
Standalone vs Holding — what's the difference?
Both are valid paths. Here's what sets them apart so you can make the right call.
One company, owned directly. Faster, cheaper, less admin.
A parent company shields assets and separates risk across entities.
Moving money between subsidiaries tax-free is a major advantage as you grow.
Start standalone and restructure later — it's possible, just takes an extra step when the time comes.