Impressum Requirements for German Websites: A Quick Guide

I've seen German websites without Impressum. They get warning letters. They get fined. They have to add it.

Let me show you what's actually required.

What is an Impressum?

Impressum = Legal notice. Required for German websites.

Who needs it: Commercial websites. Businesses. Self-employed. Online shops.

Who doesn't: Purely private websites (sometimes).

What Must Be Included

Company Information

Required:

• Full company name
• Legal form (GmbH, UG, etc.)
• Registered address
• Registration number

Example: "Tedeca GmbH, Musterstraße 123, 12345 München, HRB 123456"

Contact Details

Required:

• Physical address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Responsible person

Example: "Contact: info@tedeca.de, +49 123 456789, Responsible: Max Mustermann"

Legal Information

Required (if applicable):

• Tax ID number
• VAT number
• Chamber membership
• Professional regulations

Example: "VAT ID: DE123456789, Tax ID: 123/456/78901"

Where to Place It

Accessibility

Required: Easy to find. Clear link. Accessible from all pages.

Common placement: Footer link. "Impressum" or "Legal Notice".

Good example: Footer link on every page. Clear. Accessible.

Bad example: Buried in terms. Hard to find. Inaccessible.

Language

Required: German language. Clear. Understandable.

Why: German law requires German language for legal notices.

The Checklist

Use this checklist:

• Company name (full, legal)
• Legal form
• Registered address
• Registration number
• Contact information (phone, email)
• Responsible person
• Tax ID (if applicable)
• VAT number (if applicable)
• Chamber membership (if applicable)
• Professional regulations (if applicable)
• Easy to find (footer link)
• German language
• Up-to-date

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Missing Information

Problem: Incomplete Impressum. Missing required information.

Fix: Include all required information. Complete. Accurate.

Mistake 2: Hard to Find

Problem: Impressum buried. Hard to access.

Fix: Place in footer. Clear link. Accessible.

Mistake 3: Wrong Language

Problem: Impressum in English. Or mixed languages.

Fix: Use German. Complete. Clear.

Mistake 4: Outdated Information

Problem: Old information. Not updated.

Fix: Keep current. Update when changes occur.

The Consequences

Warning Letters

What happens: Lawyers send warning letters. Demand payment. Threaten legal action.

Cost: €500-2,000 per warning letter.

Real example: A client got 3 warning letters. Paid €1,500. Had to add Impressum. Cost €500. Total: €2,000.

Fines

What happens: Authorities can fine you. For missing Impressum.

Cost: €1,000-5,000 typically.

Real example: A client got fined €2,500 for missing Impressum. Had to add it. Cost €500. Total: €3,000.

Legal Action

What happens: Authorities can take legal action. Force compliance.

Cost: Legal fees. Fines. Business impact.

Real example: A client faced legal action. Paid €5,000 in legal fees. Had to add Impressum. Cost €500. Total: €5,500.

The Investment

Adding Impressum costs money. But not adding it costs more:

Adding Impressum: €200-500 Not adding Impressum: €2,000-5,500 in fines + legal fees

Adding is cheaper. Much cheaper.

The Bottom Line

Impressum is required for German websites. Missing it = legal risk.

Without Impressum: Warning letters. Fines. Legal risk.

With Impressum: Legal protection. No fines. No risk.

The choice is clear.

Ready to add Impressum to your website? Get your fixed-price quote in 24 hours and let's ensure compliance.