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🇩🇪 Country guide · Germany
US market entry for German companies: the 2026 guide
German companies are among the largest foreign investors in the US, and the Mittelstand's engineering reputation opens doors. What closes deals is a US-style sales motion: speed, a local contact and proof from American customers.
Germany and the US, in numbers
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| German investment in the US by ultimate owner, end 2025 | $706 billion — third after Japan and Canada (BEA, UBO basis) |
| New German direct investment in the US, 2025 | $26.7 billion — second after Japan (BEA) |
| German projects announced in the US, H1 2026 | 92, about 14% of European projects (EACC Barometer) |
| E-2 treaty in force since | 1956 |
Visa and entity basics for German founders
- E-2 treaty investor visa: Germany has an E-2 treaty with the US, so German nationals can qualify by investing substantially in a US business they direct. It follows citizenship, not residence.
- L-1: move a manager or specialist who has worked for your German company for at least one year in the last three to a US affiliate.
- Entity: most German parents use a Delaware C-corporation. A US LLC owned by your German company must file Form 5472 every year ($25,000 penalty if missed).
- Beneficial ownership: a US-formed subsidiary is exempt from FinCEN BOI reporting under the August 2026 final rule; a German entity registered directly in a US state is not.
Where German companies find help
| Organisation | What it does |
|---|---|
| German American Chambers of Commerce (AHK USA) | Network of German chambers in the US offering market-entry services, events and contacts. |
| Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) | Federal agency publishing US market and sector reports for German exporters. |
| SelectUSA | US Department of Commerce programme connecting foreign investors with US states. |
| Gershon Consulting | Outbound LinkedIn pipeline and commercial representation from New York. |
Sectors where German companies win US accounts
Industrial equipment and automation, automotive suppliers, chemicals, medical technology, energy and industrial software. The Midwest and the South (Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas) host many German manufacturers and their US buyers.
The Mittelstand trap
Many German SMEs wait for a perfect US plan, then hire one US sales manager to do everything. A faster path is to test demand with outbound to named US accounts for a few months, then hire into a pipeline that already exists.
How we run a US pipeline for German companies
- US market map and ICP brief before launch, from ICP.gershon.ai plus our analysis.
- Promote: content written for US buyers and published on your behalf on LinkedIn.
- Network: personalised outreach to mapped US decision-makers, run from New York.
- Engage: replies turned into meetings, with talking points and weekly reports.
We work with one company per sector. See the full US market entry guide or our Promote · Network · Engage method.
Frequently asked questions
Can German citizens get an E-2 visa?
Yes. Germany's treaty with the US has covered E-1 and E-2 since 1956. Germany is one of the most frequent users of the E-2 category.
Is it better to start in the Midwest or on the coasts?
It depends on the buyer. Industrial and automotive buyers cluster in the Midwest and South; software and finance buyers cluster in New York, Boston and the Bay Area. Pick the region where your first buyer profile lives.
Do US buyers care that a product is made in Germany?
It helps credibility in engineering-heavy sectors, but buyers still expect US references, US support hours and dollar pricing.
Want US buyers in your pipeline this quarter?
Free 30-minute call with Olivier Attia, founder of Gershon Consulting. We map who buys what you sell in the US and how a Promote · Network · Engage campaign would reach them.
Book your free US growth call