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What does "Freiberufler" mean in English?

Business, Employment • 
Last updated on 15 March 2024

Freiberufler, literally translated as “freelancer” in English, refers to self-employed professionals in Germany who offer specialized services based on their qualifications.

What is “Freiberufler”?

Freiberufler are independent professionals who provide services in their field of expertise, which typically requires a high level of education or specialized training. This category includes a variety of professions such as artists, engineers, lawyers, doctors, and consultants. In Germany, being a Freiberufler has implications for tax registration, visa applications, and membership in professional organizations[1].

More information about “Freiberufler”

Freiberufler are distinct from tradespeople (Gewerbetreibende) in that they do not need to register a trade (Gewerbe) or pay trade tax (Gewerbesteuer). They also have fewer bureaucratic obligations compared to tradespeople, such as not needing to join the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or to use double-entry bookkeeping unless they exceed certain revenue or profit thresholds[1].

Here are some additional terms that are related to Freiberufler:

  • Gewerbetreibender: A self-employed person who does not qualify as a Freiberufler and whose business is considered a trade (Gewerbe)[1].
  • Gewerbeanmeldung: The process of registering a trade with the local trade office, which is required for Gewerbetreibende but not for Freiberufler[1].
  • IHK: The Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which Gewerbetreibende must join and pay membership fees to, unlike Freiberufler[1].
  • Kleinunternehmer: A small business owner who can be either a Freiberufler or a Gewerbetreibender and may qualify for VAT exemption under certain conditions[2].

Understanding the distinction between Freiberufler and other forms of self-employment is crucial for compliance with German regulations and for optimizing tax obligations.

Sources

[1] https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/freiberufler-or-gewerbe [2] https://www.germany-visa.org/blog/taxes-for-freelancers-and-self-employed-workers/ [3] https://www.iamexpat.de/career/entrepreneur-germany/going-freelance [4] https://www.firma.de/en/company-formation/what-is-a-freiberufler-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-liberal-professions-in-germany/ [5] https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/self-employment-taxes/a-freelancers-guide-to-taxes/L6ACNfKVW [6] https://www.accountable.de/en/blog/register-freelancer-or-tradesperson/ [7] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/german-english/freiberufler [8] https://abill.io/en/blog/freelancer-legal-setups-and-taxation-in-germany/ [9] https://www.nomadenberlin.com/freiberufler [10] https://www.accountable.de/en/blog/freelancer-freiberufler-freie-mitarbeitender/ [11] https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/self-employed-in-germany [12] https://www.9am.works/freelancer-academy/blog/freelancer-registration [13] https://help.getsorted.de/en/articles/3782735-legal-structure-for-self-employment-freiberufler-gewerbetreibende-and-others [14] https://www.expatica.com/de/finance/taxes/tax-and-freelancers-in-germany-100950/ [15] https://handbookgermany.de/en/self-employment [16] https://blog.sprintax.com/self-employed-tax-obligations-nonresidents/ [17] https://www.accountable.de/en/blog/freiberufler-or-gewerbe/ [18] https://www.freelancetaxation.com/the-minimum-freelancers-need-to-earn-in-order-to-have-to-file-income-taxes [19] https://www.firma.de/en/company-formation/what-is-a-freelancer-everything-you-need-to-know-about-freelancing-in-germany/ [20] https://qonto.com/en/blog/freelancers/accounting/self-employed-tax-in-germany