German Business Culture

Doing Business in Germany

Knowing the German business culture is important to start new endeavors

Business is taken seriously and German values such as fairness, loyalty, punctuality, professionalism, and reliability should be reciprocated. In general, German business mentality means that negotiations are fair and agreements are rarely changed or disrupted at the last minute. Transparency is also important at a German company, which means that corruption is uncommon, as is gift-giving (even if it’s just a small gift) or handing out compliments in order to charm your way to a good deal. 

Ethics are central to daily German business practice, as is corporate social responsibility. Communication in business culture and meetings is formal and employees speak to each other politely but efficiently. German work ethics mean employees always turn up on time and do a full day’s work, they are in turn rewarded with fair pay and good working conditions. 

Everyone in Germany wants every task, big or small, to be completed to its best, on time, and with high satisfaction for the end consumer. Germans place a strong emphasis on the quality of their products and services. Employees are generally loyal to their employers and share their desire to create high-quality products and provide dependable services.