Why this matters
Tax advice works better when you have your facts in order. That way the conversation focuses less on sorting out the basics and more on the questions where real expertise is actually needed.
Turn knowledge into a start plan
This guide explains one topic. Whether it is really a priority for you right now depends on your answers in the start plan.
Create start planWhat to clarify before the meeting
Describe your activity in plain terms: what do you sell, to whom, through which channel, and since when or starting when? This description is often more useful than getting the technical term exactly right.
Note down your planned legal structure (Rechtsform), start date, expected revenue, expected profit, customer types, major investments, platforms you use, and whether the small-business exemption (Kleinunternehmerregelung) or VAT (Umsatzsteuer) might be relevant.
If you have already started, gather invoices, receipts, bank statements, platform payout reports, contracts, tool subscriptions, and any open letters from the tax office (Finanzamt).
Good questions for the first consultation
Don't just ask: what do I need to do? Ask more specifically: which decisions matter right now, which can wait, what documents do you need from me on a regular basis, and what mistakes do you commonly see with similar side businesses?
Key topics include: trade business vs. freelance status (gewerblich oder freiberuflich), the small-business exemption (Kleinunternehmerregelung), VAT (Umsatzsteuer), the income-surplus calculation (EÜR – Einnahmenüberschussrechnung), tax reserves, advance tax payments, keeping private and business finances separate, mixed-use expenses, and your tool setup.
If you run an online shop, sell on marketplaces, use EU-based tools, sell digital products, or work through platforms, mention these channels explicitly. That is exactly where special tax questions tend to arise.
Documents that are often useful
Helpful materials include a short description of your business model, revenue and cost assumptions, any invoices and receipts you already have, a bank account overview, contract documents, letters from the Finanzamt, and a list of the tools or platforms you use.
If you are planning financing or grants, a business plan, financial plan, and capital requirements overview may also become relevant. The Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors (Bundessteuerberaterkammer – BStBK) describes tax advisors as a potential source of support for business management questions around starting a business.
What to record after the meeting
After the consultation you should know: which tasks you handle yourself, which the firm handles, which deadlines matter, how and when documents are handed over, and which decisions still need to be reviewed.
Also note the fee structure: the initial consultation, ongoing support, individual tax returns, the annual financial statement, the EÜR, VAT advance returns (Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldungen), and follow-up queries can all be billed differently.
Quick checklist
- Describe your activity, customers, offering, and channels in a few sentences.
- Gather your revenue estimate, costs, planned investments, and start date.
- Prepare questions about legal structure, the Kleinunternehmerregelung, VAT, EÜR, and tax reserves.
- List the tools, platforms, payment providers, and marketplaces you use.
- Clarify which tasks the firm, your tools, and you yourself will each handle.
Common mistakes
- Only asking what it costs without describing your own situation.
- Not mentioning platforms, EU-based tools, or digital products because they seem minor.
- Going into the consultation without receipts, a bank overview, or revenue assumptions.
- Not writing down after the meeting who is responsible for which task.
What this guide can and cannot do
This guide helps with
- prepare a personalised agenda for your first consultation
- sort open questions by taxes, bookkeeping, legal structure, and tools
- help you describe your business model briefly and clearly
This guide does not replace
- replace the professional assessment of a tax advisor
- prepare tax returns with binding legal effect
- guarantee the fees a firm will charge or that they will take you on as a client