Registering as a 1 game development business owner in Germany | Completed Gewerbe from the corner of my room

To start with the conclusion,

the task of registering as a 1 game development business in Germany itself

finished much faster than I expected.

 

I completed the application from the corner of my room on Sunday,

and on Friday the registration completion documents arrived by registered mail.

 

It was exactly 5 days.

 

 

All business registrations were done entirely at home.

The name of the business I registered is House Duck.

 

I listed the business activities as development, release, and marketing of digital games and mobile apps,

advertising and in-app purchase revenue, and website operation.

 

 

At least the process I went through in Kronberg

was not a method of visiting government offices multiple times.

 

However, this is my actual experience,

and the required procedures may vary depending on the city, residence status, and business form.

 

Hessen Administration Portal Gewerbe Registration Guide

 

 

 

 

---

 

What got blocked was the administration following the registration.

ELSTER registration

got blocked at the online ID card function of the German residence permit.

 

 

For some reason,

because the PIN of the eID was locked,

I tried to unlock it with the PUK code,

but both iPhone and Android phones failed at the final authentication step.

 

As a result of inquiring by email,

I received a reply that I eventually need to visit the immigration office to reset the PIN or check the card.

 

The D-U-N-S number too

has been applied for, but I am still waiting.

 

The Apple Developer side was not simple either.

 

The account address remained

as the pre-move address, so a change application was necessary,

and contracts, taxes, banking information, and Digital Services Act related questionnaires also had to be re-verified.

 

 

 

 

---

 

Before and after business registration, the problem is naturally 'money'.

As soon as I finished business registration,

unknown subscription fees did not pop up everywhere.

 

That the Apple Developer Program has an annual fee,

and that fixed costs like AI tools, servers, and domains are incurred

I knew even before starting.

 

Apple Developer Program Registration Guide

 

Become a member - Apple Developer Program - Apple Developer

Learn about what you will need to enroll in the Apple Developer Program.

developer.apple.com

 

 

In my case, for close coding work of 8 hours a day for 3 to 4 days a week,

I am also using the ChatGPT highest usage plan that costs slightly over 200 euros per month.

 

 

Although Pro is displayed starting from 103 euros per month on the public price list,

the higher usage option I chose is slightly over 200 euros per month.

 

ChatGPT Official Pricing Table

 

ChatGPT Pricing | Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise

 

chatgpt.com

 

 

---

 

The first goal is fixed income exceeding fixed costs.

This does not mean making big money with just one game right away.

 

At least the Apple annual fee and AI tools,

as much as the costs that continuously go into making games and software,

I want to exceed with fixed income from games and services.

 

Only when crossing that line, when making the next game,

can I push forward again without worrying about costs first.

 

Business registration was not the finish line.

 

The costs I already knew about

were closer to the starting line where I now have to exceed them with actual sales.