Workshop: How to Become a Freelancer in Berlin
by James Glazebrook
Since moving to Berlin, we’ve learned the hard way how to set ourselves up as freelancers in Germany. Every time we tried to decipher another letter written in Deutsch officialese, navigate the corridors of one more Amt, or (shudder!) do our taxes, we wished there was someone to explain what we should be doing, and why. That’s why we’re really excited to announce this all-important überlin workshop, in conjunction with the experts at Expath: How to Become a Freelancer in Berlin.
This is the workshop for you if you’re thinking of going freelance, or if you already have and don’t know exactly what you’re doing. Maybe you’ve moved to Berlin from outside of Germany, and want to know how the country’s laws affect you. Or perhaps you’re working cash-in-hand and want to “get official”, lest you get locked up or deported or something (just kidding!). Or maybe you’re just wondering: do I really need all this insurance?
Join our workshop to get an expert’s answers to questions like these:
- What kind of health insurance do I need?
- What other insurances are a good idea?
- How do I get a tax number and invoice clients?
- How do income taxes work?
- What is VAT and do I need to charge it? Are there other taxes I need to know about?
- What is the difference between freelancing, self-employed and being a Gewerbe?
- What are the special German laws regarding marketing, advertising, your website etc?
How to Become a Freelancer in Berlin takes place on Saturday, from 2 – 6pm in our beautiful coworking space. It will be in held *in English* and costs €35 (plus VAT) to attend. Sign up for our upcoming workshops:
Happy freelancing!
Hi,
Sounds great, unfortunately I will miss this one, but I read on your comments that you plan to do it on a monthly basis. I would definitely join next time, hopefully it is in February, but I am afraid not to miss the news. Is there a way I can sign up, would you put in in a newsletter or Facebook? Just asking because I am missing so many good events in Berlin Thanks!
ahaha, this is 2015…..so never mind
Huh? The next workshop is this weekend – 16th January 2016. Let us know if you’d like to join!
Hello will there be any more of these workshops in the future if so is there somewhere I can subscribe to so I don’t miss the next workshop??
Hey Jon, we’ll be doing more workshops in future, but we have no dates planned yet. We’ve got your email and will drop you a note when we’ve set something up!
Hi James,
I’m also interested in attending but can’t make it to tomorrow’s workshop. Can you also keep me posted when the next one is going ahead.
Thanks!
Hayli
Hi!
Will the attendees of the “How to Become a Freelancer Workshop” receive a certificate or the like, as a proof of participation? That would be very handy!
Kind regards,
Linda
Hi Linda,
Thanks for the question!
Currently, we don’t offer any kind of certification. We’re focused on giving attendees the practical advice they need to set themselves up and succeed as freelancers, and we think that’s more valuable than proof of participation.
Hope you understand
James
Hi! Just wondering, I am a German local but have no idea how I would go about working freelance. Would this course be beneficial to me even though I dont have problems with the health insurance and my own ability to work here?
Hi there! We think the course would still be beneficial, as you’ll learn how to register your business, invoice your clients, pay your taxes and other insurance, and more! If you’re interested, please email us and we’ll reserve your place. Thanks!
Rats! Just saw this post yesterday! When will the next one be held?
Hey Josh,
We’re not sure exactly when the next one will be held, but we’ll let you know.
Watch this space!
Hi there, I can’t make it this time but REALLY want to be informed of the next workshop. Please email me when you have decided on the dates as I know of several others who want to join as well. Thanks! Nicole.
Sure thing Nicole, will do!
How many places are left for the workshop on May 9th? And when is the deadline to register? Thanks.
Hi Monique!
There are currently about 15 places left, and you have until Thursday May 7th to register for it.
Hope that helps
Oh no.. I can’t believe I just read about this workshop that took place 4 days ago..
Could you perhaps, plan the next one already this month? (I want to register myself a freelancer by April 23) ????
Mandy
Hey Mandy!
Sorry you missed the last workshop. The next one’s likely to be early May, just after you register :/
If you still have questions after you register, we’d love to see you at the next workshop. Watch this space!
Hi, same problem as James, can you keep a safe place for me, as I don’t have a pay pal account, will do create one now, but seems like i can’t register to the workshop, yet. Thanks!
Hello guys!
I would like to join you on the 4th but I don’t currently have a paypal account. I set one up today but since it is going to take a couple of days for them to confirm my account details, would it be possible to make a payment directly to your account? Just wanna make sure I will find a ticket.
Thanks,
Efi
Hi Efi,
Thanks for asking!
Things are waaaay easier for us if you pay by PayPal, so it’s better if you wait and do that.
We’ll save a place for you
Hi James,
Sounds good to me! It should be ok in a couple of days so will make the payment through paypal.
Thanks and see you soon!
Efi
Hi, I would love to attend the workshop but won’t be in Berlin on April 4th. Will you be having another workshop some time in the future?
Thank you, Sasha
Yes! We’re planning to do this about every month, so there’ll be another workshop some time in May. Stay tuned for deets!
Hello
This sounds like a very interesting workshop! My friend and me would like to join, but it seems no more tickets can be purchased online… Is there an alternative for getting two tickets? Please tell me that the workshop is not sold out already
Thanks a lot!
Cheers,
Andreea
Oops – that was a problem with our settings. Fixed now!
You should be able to buy a ticket no problem now, but let us know if you have any more questions / problems.
Thanks!
James
Dear Organizer(s) –
I am definitely willing to attend this workshop, as it is extremely important for me, and aligns with my career objectives. I am originally from India, currently pursuing my Master’s Degree in International Management at a University in Berlin. I leafed through the option to register, but the only mode of payment is through online wire transfer or Paypal. Unfortunately, there has been a technical glitch in my online Banking account. Is it somehow possible to pay the amount as cash in advance and reserve a place?
I look forward to your response.
Best Regards –
Manjul Kumar
Thanks for the interest, but currently we can’t accept cash payment. Sorry about that!
We’re going to run these regularly, so hopefully your online banking will be OK by the time we schedule another one.
Watch this space!
Hello, I want to come! txs ????
Great. Feel free to sign up!
Hi Guys, do you still have space available for the next workshop?
Yes we do!
Hallo:) I want to attend to your workshop!!
Now my paypal account has some technical problems,
so I can not pay the money by a credit card….
any another ways?
Sure thing! Can you please drop us an email at this address, and we’ll send you our bank account details?
hey James,
is this a one time thing or do you guys run this workshop on a regular basis?
I’m planning to make my move to Berlin in September and would reeeally need one of these sessions to get a better grasp of how things work
Hey Melania,
This is something we’re planning to do regularly, about once a month.
So we should be able to help you, come September. Good luck with the move!
James
I second the above comment that a webinar would be amazing please, or some kind of recording. I am planning on making the move in April to teach English (as part of a publishing career long-term plan!) and, despite speaking fluent German, am already boggled by the bureaucracy – it was so much simpler when I lived in Germany as a student! Love the blog
Hi, I’d pay to sign up for a webinar as based in Brighton. Freelancing now but would be keen to hear advice about working freelance for a UK business from an apartment in Berlin.
If you’re able to somehow record any aspects of the workshop content, please make this known.
Thanks and hope it goes well!
This is an interesting idea, and one we’ll think about. Thanks for the suggestion!
Really want to join this workshop, but I’ll be out of town, please do it again soon!
Almost tempted to come a second time. The first one was great. Would highly recommend it!