Self-employed and employed in Germany (2025 guide): taxes, insurance & step-by-step checklist

Yes, you can be self-employed and employed in Germany.

Register your freelance activity with the tax office, inform your employer, keep separate books, and pay income tax and social-security contributions on your total earnings. Use the right tax class and health-insurance option to avoid penalties.

Blending a salaried job with a freelance or side business has exploded since remote work, digital platforms, and inflation reshaped the German labour market. Whether you want extra income, a safety net while testing a startup idea, or simply more variety in your week, combining employment and self-employment lets you enjoy the best of both worlds—steady pay cheques and entrepreneurial freedom.

But Germany’s rules for dual earners are unique. You must tell your employer, register your activity with the tax office, and keep an eagle eye on tax class, income-tax advances, and social-security thresholds. Pick the wrong option and you risk back-payments for Steuer and Krankenversicherung—yet choose wisely and you can legally optimise both.

This guide walks you through every step:  

• How Krankenkassen decide whether your business is “main” or “side”,  

• Which Steuerklasse fits mixed incomes,  

• A built-in calculator (“selbstständig und angestellt Rechner”) to see your real tax hit,  

• Health-insurance strategies for expats and locals, and  

• A decision table for couples where one partner is employed and the other is a freelancer.

Can you be self-employed and employed at the same time?

In short, yes, you can be both self-employed and employed in Germany. Article 12 of the Basic Law guarantees the free choice of occupation, allowing every employee to start a side business or freelance gig. However, a few rules decide how you can do it legally and tax-efficiently. 

1. Check your employment contract

Most modern German contracts (and all public-sector jobs) contain a Nebentätigkeits-Klausel. You must inform – and often get written permission from – your employer before you invoice your first client. The company may refuse only if your activity competes with them, violates working-time law, or harms performance.

2. Register your side business

• Freiberufler: submit the “Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung” to the tax office within four weeks.

• Gewerbetreibende: file a Gewerbeanmeldung at the local trade office as well as the “Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung”; they forward the details to the Finanzamt.

From that moment, you must issue invoices with the correct tax number and, if applicable, VAT ID.

💡 You can submit Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung without Elster account, with tips, and for free with Norman. Become self-employed in a few minutes here.

3. Understand “main vs. side” in social insurance

German Krankenkassen decide whether your self-employment is hauptberuflich (main) or nebenberuflich (side). Key yardsticks:

Exceed any “main” criterion and you owe full health-insurance contributions on your business profit; stay below and your day-job cover usually remains sufficient. 

4. Taxes: one wallet for the Finanzamt

Germany taxes total annual income. Your salary is taxed at source (wage tax), while your freelance profit is added via the income tax return. Choosing the right tax class (Steuerklasse) for the job income and making quarterly advance payments keeps surprises away – we’ll detail both in the next section.

5. Protect your time & health

Working two roles easily breaks the Arbeitszeitgesetz. Cap your overall working week at max 48 hours (including commute) and schedule regular rest days. Many dual earners block evenings or weekends exclusively for client work to avoid overlap with their employer’s core hours.

Takeaway: Combining employment with self-employment is perfectly legal, but only if you (1) clear it with your boss, (2) register correctly for tax, and (3) monitor the 20-hour/1.872,50 € limits that trigger higher social-insurance costs. Follow these steps and you’ll enjoy the stability of a paycheck and the upside of entrepreneurship – the best from both worlds.

Main job vs. side gig – how Germany’s statutory health insurers decide

When you earn money in two ways, your health-insurance fund (“Krankenkasse”) must label your freelance activity as either a sideline or a principal occupation.
That label drives everything: which contributions you pay, whether you can stay on the cheaper employee tariff, and if switching to private cover is even possible.

Decision checklist

The reference value (“Bezugsgröße”) for 2025 is €3.745 per month; the funds update thresholds annually. 

What the label means in practice

• Side-line status

  • Your day-job coverage remains primary.

  • Freelance profit is added to your income tax return, but no extra health insurance fees are charged on it.

• Principal status

  • You must pay the full self-employed contribution (about 14 %–15 % of profit plus long-term-care levy).

  • Switching back to employee tariffs or private insurance later in life can be challenging once you’re 55 or older.

  • Pension and unemployment insurance stay optional unless special rules apply (e.g., crafts, teaching).

Tips to stay on the cheaper side-line track

1. Track hours every month; overtime in peak seasons can tip you over the limit.

2. Watch the 1,9k/2,8k € profit markers—raise prices carefully or reinvest to keep taxable profit below the line.

3. Avoid hiring above mini-job level until you’re ready to accept principal-status costs.

4. Document everything (timesheets, invoices, contracts); insurers ask for evidence during audits.

Key takeaway: keep weekly business hours under 20 and monthly profit under roughly 1,9k €, and your health insurer will typically treat the venture as a side gig. Cross those lines—even unintentionally—and you’ll be re-classified as principally self-employed, with much higher social-security bills.

Couples where one partner is employed and the other self-employed

Germany lets married or registered-partner couples choose each tax year between

• joint assessment (the “income-splitting” or Ehegattensplitting method) and

• separate assessment (each partner files their own return).

Picking the right option—and the right payroll tax-class combination (III/V, IV/IV, or IV with factor)—can save thousands, but the best choice flips when special payments or losses enter the mix.

1. Joint vs. separate filing: A quick decision grid

Tip: run both cases in ELSTER or a paid tax tool before you decide—the choice is locked for that tax year once the return is final.

2. What the payroll tax class does (and doesn’t) change

Payroll withholding only touches the employee’s salary. The self-employed partner still pays quarterly advance income tax, and both incomes are added in the final return.

3. Health-insurance knock-on effects

4. Four money-saving tactics for mixed couples

1. Simulate both filings every year - Norman has real-time tax estimates for free when you start adding your financials.

2. Adjust wage-tax withholding mid-year (form “Antrag auf Lohnsteuer-Ermäßigung”) if freelance profit trends higher than planned.

3. Log every tax-free benefit: parental allowance, unemployment, sick pay. Even if it is untaxed, it still raises the joint rate (Progressionsvorbehalt).

4. Keep profit below the €535 family-insurance line if feasible—e.g., shift income to January or invest in equipment before year-end.

Key takeaways

• Do the maths, don’t rely on rules of thumb. The splitting tariff generally helps when incomes differ, but the progression clause or a low business loss can flip the result.

• The tax class affects monthly cash flow only; the final liability is determined in the annual return.

• Health insurance is profit-driven. Stay below the part-time threshold and you could save over 3.000 € a year in contributions.

• Re-evaluate each year. Career changes, a new baby, or a bumper freelance project can all make last year’s “best choice” expensive this time around.

With a bit of modelling—and honest tracking of profit and benefits—couples can legally optimise both their tax bill and their social-security costs while enjoying the flexibility of one secure salary and one entrepreneurial income stream.

Tax essentials for employees + side-business owners in Germany

Germany looks at all your annual income together—salary, freelance profit, rental income, dividends, everything—and then applies the progressive tax scale after subtracting the 2025 personal allowance of €12,096 (€24,192 for couples). 

Below is the “need-to-know” checklist that helps dual earners stay compliant and maintain a cash-flow-positive position.

1. How salary and freelance profit meet on one tax return

Good to know: Instalments fall on 10 March, 10 June, 10 September, and 10 December each year. 

2. Picking the right payroll tax-class combo

Remember: tax class changes only affect payroll withholding. The final income-tax bill is settled in the return, so adjust mid-year if freelance profit is trending higher than planned—use My ELSTER → “Antrag auf Lohnsteuer-Ermäßigung”. 

3. VAT and other business-tax checkpoints

4. Your “dual-income” calculator & planner

Try our free tool: Enter annual salary, projected business profit, and tax class to see (1) quarterly income-tax instalments, (2) expected VAT position, and (3) take-home pay after social contributions—all in 60 seconds. Here is the free tax calculator.

5. Bookkeeping & cash-flow tips

1. Separate bank account for the business—simplifies VAT returns and keeps the payroll account tidy.

2. Set aside 30 % of every freelance invoice in a sub-account marked “tax” so quarterly instalments don’t hurt.

3. Use modern software that tags each receipt to wage, freelance, or private; your accountant (or you) can export the whole year in minutes.

4. Re-forecast each quarter. If profit rockets, ask the tax office to raise instalments early and avoid a nasty year-end bill; if profit falls, request a reduction.

5. Archive everything for eight years. The tax office can audit both sides of your income long after a contract ends.

Key takeaway: Add up all income, withhold wisely via the right tax class, pre-pay what the tax office expects, and you’ll avoid penalties while maximising your combined net income—and that applies whether you’re single, in a mixed-income couple, or riding the roller-coaster of entrepreneurial growth.

Health-insurance scenarios for dual earners in 2025

Germany’s public health-insurance funds (the statutory system) decide whether your side business is a sideline or a principal occupation.
That label controls what, where, and how much you pay—and whether you may stay on your employee tariff, join your partner’s family plan, or jump to private cover.

Practical tips to keep costs under control

1. Track hours and profit monthly. One busy quarter can nudge you into principal-business territory.

2. Plan invoices around thresholds. Deferring a December payment to January may keep you below the 1.872/2.809 € cut-offs.

3. Keep good records. If a fund audit questions your status, timesheets and profit-and-loss statements are your best defence.

4. Use the family option wisely. A stay-at-home spouse or low-profit freelancer can save roughly €200 – €400 per month by staying on the family plan, but one extra contract can cancel the free ride.

5. Model private vs. public every year. Rising premiums and the new 73.800 € salary bar mean switching to private is viable for fewer high earners; crunch the numbers before you leap.

Bottom line: Stay under 20 hours and roughly 1.900 € profit a month, and your day job cover is usually enough. Go beyond that, and the fund will treat your venture as your main job, triggering full self-employed contributions or a move to private insurance. Track the limits, document everything, and you’ll never be caught off-guard by a five-figure back-bill.

Pension, unemployment & accident insurance – how the two-income model affects each branch of German social security

What this means in practice

1. Double pay-ins are rare. Your employee pension and unemployment contributions never touch the freelance profit unless you voluntarily opt in or belong to a compulsory profession.

2. Opt-in can be smart:
   Pension – voluntary membership lets you build state entitlements and access disability cover; you can also halve the flat rate for the first three calendar years.
   Unemployment – for approximately 100 € a month, you can secure up to 12 months of benefits if the business fails (up to 24 months if you are 58 years or older).

3. Accident insurance is cheap peace of mind. A single claim can wipe out a small company; office-based freelancers often pay ≤ € 10 per month for full medical and rehabilitation cover.

4. Track thresholds. Crossing the 1.872 € profit or 20-hour line (see health-insurance section) will not by itself force pension or unemployment contributions. Still, it does switch you to the self-employed tariff for health care, which in turn raises your overall social-security bill.

5. Private top-ups still matter. Even if you pay into state schemes, consider private retirement plans (such as Rürup or ETF), income-protection insurance, and personal liability cover to fill the gaps.

Key takeaway: Your salary already secures the full employee package; the freelance side lets you decide how much extra social protection you need. Use the low voluntary rates in the first years to build a safety net, then review annually as profits grow.

9-Step Compliance Checklist for Mixing a Job with a Side Business

1. Get written employer consent
   Check your contract for a secondary-activity clause and file the official notification before you invoice a client.

2. Choose the right business type
   Freelancer (Freiberufler) or sole trader (Gewerbe) — decide fast because the paperwork and taxes differ.

3. Register with the tax office
   Submit the “Questionnaire for tax registration” (Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung) online within four weeks of starting.

4. Pick the optimal payroll tax-class combo
   III/V, IV/IV, or IV with factor - balance monthly cash-flow against the year-end bill; adjust when circumstances change.

5. Open a dedicated business bank account
   Separates salary, VAT, and expenses; makes audits and quarterly tax payments painless.

6. Set up bookkeeping and VAT routines
   Cloud software + receipt scanner; file VAT returns by the 10th of the following month/quarter if you exceed the small-business limit.

7. Track working hours and monthly profit
   Stay below ≈ 20h/week and ≈ 1.900 € profit to keep your day-job health-insurance tariff; breach it and you’ll owe full self-employed contributions.

8. Review social-security options
   Voluntary pension and unemployment cover, compulsory accident insurance in risky trades, and family-plan eligibility if profit ≤ €535/month.

9. Schedule an annual status check
   Every January: run the tax calculator, compare joint vs. separate filing (if partnered), and confirm your Krankenkasse classification still fits your hours and income.

Follow these nine steps and you’ll stay on the right side of German tax law, social security, and employer obligations while enjoying the best of both worlds: a steady salary and entrepreneurial freedom.

Time-management & work-life balance hacks for the double-hatter

Balancing a nine-to-five and a business can feel like working two full-time jobs—but smart systems beat sheer stamina. Use the hacks below to keep both income streams (and your sanity) intact.

Rule of thumb: If a commitment doesn’t fit cleanly into your colour-coded calendar—or would push you past 48 total work hours—either outsource it, raise your price, or say no. Protecting white space is the difference between a sustainable hybrid career and an inevitable crash.

Use these systems consistently for 30 days and you’ll see sharper focus, higher billable output, and—most importantly—space left for real life.

FAQ 

Can I legally have a job and a side-business in Germany?

Yes. The constitution protects free choice of occupation so that you may freelance or run a small trade in addition to employment. You must (1) tell your employer if a “secondary-activity clause” exists and (2) keep the side gig below roughly 20 hours per week to remain a part-time business for social-insurance purposes.

Do I pay income tax twice—once on salary and again on profit?

No. Wage tax is withheld every month, while your freelance profit is added in the annual return. The tax office then calculates one progressive bill on the combined total; any surplus or shortfall is refunded or collected. The Federal Ministry’s online calculator shows the result.

Which payroll tax-class mix works best when my partner is salaried and I am self-employed?

• III / V – higher net pay for the main earner, but expect back-payments if your profit rises.

• IV / IV – good when wages are similar and the business is small.

• IV / IV with factor – balances unequal wages in real-time and will replace III / V after 2030.

What happens if my side-gig grows beyond 20 hours or about 1.900 € profit a month?

Your health insurance fund reclassifies the activity as your principal occupation. That triggers full self-employed health contributions (≈ 14 %–15 % of profit) and blocks access to the cheaper employee tariff.

When must I register for VAT?

From 2025, you may invoice without VAT only if sales stayed ≤ 29.750 € in the previous year and remain ≤ 119.000 € in the current year (gross figures). Crossing either line—even in December—forces an immediate switch to the standard VAT rate. 

Can I stay on my spouse’s public family insurance while freelancing?

Yes—if your business profit stays under roughly 535 € per month and you clearly work it part-time. Exceed the limit, and you must take out your own (voluntary statutory or private) policy.

Do I have to pay pension or unemployment contributions on profit?

Not by default. Most freelancers can opt into the state pension (voluntary minimum 2025: 103,42 €; maximum 1.497,30 €) and unemployment insurance (flat 97,37 € per month—half price for the first two years). Opt-in secures disability cover and benefits if the venture fails. 

Can I deduct home-office costs from both incomes?

You may claim the day-rate home-office allowance—€ 6 per day, capped at 1.260 € a year—once in your personal tax return. It covers all income sources, so you can’t claim it twice, but you may still deduct separate business equipment and travel for each role.

Conclusion – two incomes, one sustainable career

Holding a salary and running a business is no longer the exception in Germany—it’s the new normal for professionals who want stability and growth. The path is perfectly legal and often lucrative, but only when you:

1. Secure employer consent and register the venture within the first month.

2. Watch the 20-hour/1.900 € profit thresholds to keep health-insurance costs predictable.

3. Optimise tax class and filing method every year, especially if you share finances with a partner.

4. Automate bookkeeping, set aside tax cash, and review social-security options before your profit spikes.

5. Protect your time and well-being through strict calendar blocks, batching, and quarterly capacity audits.

Follow the nine-step compliance checklist, apply the hacks, and you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds: a steady pay cheque to cover fixed bills plus entrepreneurial upside to build wealth and skills.

Ready to put the plan into action?
Download a free e-book “Mastering freelance in Germany: A practical handbook for beginners” with the tax calendar, starting out checklist, and tax deductibles cheatsheet. With the right structure, your hybrid career can stay profitable, compliant, and sustainable for the long haul.