How to quickly build your own vape business and find local wholesalers and retailers in Germany

As China's tobacco policies tighten, more and more overseas investors are more optimistic about the European and American markets. Especially in the e-commerce industry, chain stores are a track that venture capital companies pay more attention to.

01 First of all, let's take a look at what we need to prepare to open a store in Germany.

02 Secondly, it also displays which local German wholesalers and retailers will participate in this German Tobacco Show to see if commercial channels can be found. At the end of the article, a display of local German wholesalers and retailers will be displayed.

Tips for opening your own store-Germane-cigarettesShop:

Want Open your own e-cigarette shop in Germany? Here you will find an overview of the most important topics on building such a business. From the choice of legal form and business registration to tips on cost planning and franchising.

Coming to Germanye-cigarette market, you will finde-cigarette industryThere are great opportunities to start a business. According to the German Electronic Cigarette Trade Association (VeRBAAccording to statistics from ndes des eZigarettenhandels or VdeH), annual sales of e-cigarettes in the German market increased from approximately 5 million euros (2010) to 400 million euros (2016). About 3.5 million Germans currently use steam equipment, and the number is growing. This growing market provides great opportunities for your self-employment.

Which legal form is best for your e-cigarette shop?

As a founder, one of the first decisions you should make is to choose the legal form for your company. For opening an e-cigarette shop, almost all German legal forms are available to you. The common legal form for setting up an e-cigarette store is UG (haftungsbeschr? nkt) and GmbH. It is also feasible to open an e-cigarette shop as an individual enterprise. Please note that each legal form is different from a tax perspective.

The following is a brief overview of the most common legal forms in the e-cigarette retail trade:

Opening an e-cigarette shop UG (haftungsbeschr? nkt)    

UG (Limited Liability) represents #p#pagination title #e#Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschr? nkt)-English for startup company (limited liability)-Yes GmbH . It is especially suitable for e-cigarette shop founders who want to establish a limited liability company with less start-up capital.

Advantages： UG  Only at least 1 euro of equity is required, which means that the total establishment cost is less than GmbH。 Responsibility#p#Pagination Title #e#： UG  assumes limited liability. This means that partners are usually only responsible for company assets and not for private assets.

Open an e-cigarette shop as a limited liability company   

Shareholders of GmbH or limited liability companies require a total share capital of € 25,000.

Advantages: LLC is a very popular and highly regarded form of business in Germany and abroad.

Responsibility: Partners do not bear any personal liability, but bear liability based on company assets.

The e-cigarette shop is opened in the form of Einzelunternehmen (wholly owned)  

portant; font-weight: bold;"> Advantages: No capital contribution is required.

Responsibility: Be careful, sole proprietors are also responsible for their private assets.

Your business philosophy and business philosophy are the most important factors in determining which legal form is the best.

Enter the Handelsregister

As a public register, the commercial register records registered merchants in the jurisdiction of the competent registration court (Registergericht). GmbH and UG (haftungsbeschr? nkt) Legal forms must be entered into Handelsregister.

IHK (Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Like the tax bureau, Gewerbeamt will also notify your local IHK when your company is established. IHK membership is mandatory and they will contact you directly.

Retail Trade Association (BerufsgeNOSsenschaft)    

In Germany, industry associations are providers of statutory social accident insurance (gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung) for companies and their employees. The Employer Liability Insurance Association (Berufsgenossenschaft Handel und Warenlogistic or BGHW) is responsible for all types of retailers. Please note that it is your responsibility to register proactively-no one will contact you. Even as a small business owner without employees, you must register with the relevant industry association.# p#pagination title #e#

German Electronic Cigarette Trade Association (VdeH)  

You may want to consider voluntarily joining an industry association. Verband der eZigarettenhandels (VdeH) is an association of manufacturers and distributors of e-cigarettes, hookah and accessory products. Industry associations provide interest representation and knowledge sharing for all retailers at the regional level.

E-cigarette retail: What are the requirements?

If you plan to open an e-cigarette store in Germany, you usually do not need to obtain a special license or professional qualification that requires certification. Nonetheless, we recommend that you consult the trade office for which you are responsible to determine. Your store may have requirements.

However, like any other retailer, you must comply with federal and state regulations. Please be sure to inform yourself in advance of the following points:

• Commercial insurance (Gewerbliche Versicherungen)

• Legal business hours in your location

• Price statement

• Building codes for your store

• Customer toilet

• Comply with the German Law on the Protection of Minors (Jugendschutzgesetz)(see the" Knowledge "section)

What is your niche?

What kind of e-cigarette shop do you want to open? Whether you open your company as a head store, e-cigarette shop, hookah shop or a comprehensive professional retailer, there are multiple ways to position yourself in the market. Your business philosophy must be clearly defined and formulated so that you can align all decisions with your philosophy. Face the task and consider your own guiding questions to approach a concept.# p#pagination title #e#

• Product line: Are you planning to open an e-cigarette store with a broad product line or an exclusive niche product line?

• Target group: Are you targeting smokers, former smokers or non-smokers? Do you provide marijuana evaporators?

• Procurement: Where do you get the goods and under what conditions?

• Services: Do you provide cleaning, maintenance and spare parts?

• Sales: Do you want to integrate an online store on your website?

• Product bundling: Do you provide complete software packages for beginners or tools for professionals?

• Additional service suggestions: Can you provide professional advice to customers?

• USP: What are your unique selling points?