ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH

What ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH does

ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH is a single-location tax advisory and accounting firm headquartered in the heritage-listed Königshof building in Hannover, Germany. Founded in 1975, the firm operates as a wholly-owned member of ETL-Gruppe, Germany's leading tax advisory network, which spans over 970 locations domestically, more than 1,470 international locations across 60+ countries, and reports group revenues exceeding €1.5 billion. The firm targets SMEs, freelancers, and self-employed professionals across nine named verticals — hospitality (via ETL ADHOGA), healthcare (via ETL ADVISION), franchise, gas stations, agriculture, professional sports, e-commerce, nonprofits, and seniors — and is managed by a team of four Geschäftsführer*innen holding Wirtschaftsprüfer and Steuerberater credentials alongside sector-specific certifications. The firm runs an integrated portfolio of five core services (Klassische Steuerberatung, Finanzbuchhaltung, Bilanzen und Steuererklärungen, Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung, Betriebswirtschaftliche Beratung) and a small set of adjacent specialized offerings, including a cash register audit (ETL Kassencheck), sustainability/ESG advisory tied to CSRD compliance, and e-invoicing advisory.

The technology stack is built on DATEV (with data processing routed through the ISO 27001/9001-certified Saarbrücken data center), the proprietary ETL PISA web portal for paperless document archiving, FP-Sign for digital signatures, and the Climate Extender CO2 calculation software that underpinned the firm's climate-neutral certification in March 2024. Distribution is enabled via the DATEV Unternehmen Online and DATEV Arbeitnehmer Online portals, the ETL PISA self-serve channel, and direct on-site consulting at the Hannover office and client premises; cross-border engagements flow through the ETL international network rather than organic build-out. The firm is run by Hille Behrens, Kerstin Drygas, Björn Waltemathe, and Cornelia Debus as Managing Directors, with Silke Reinhardt leading nonprofit specialization and Janet Einicke managing sustainability data.

Revenue is generated entirely through professional-services fees, governed by the German Steuerberatervergütungsverordnung (StBVV) regulatory fee schedule or individually negotiated fee agreements. The go-to-market is sales-led, with personal consultation at the Hannover office and direct client visits targeting Hannover-region SMEs; group-wide cross-referrals within ETL supply specialized legal, audit, and international mandates. Customer acquisition is supported by an active content and event program — including the firm's own website, ETL Group newsletters, business brunches, workshops, webinars, the ETL podcast, and community partnerships with TSV Hannover-Burgdorf (Die Recken) and FHDW Hannover — and by the firm's membership in the Women's Networking Lounge (WNL).

Name

ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH

Legal name

ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH

Website

https://etl-im-koenigshof.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH is a Hannover-based tax advisory and accounting firm serving SMEs, freelancers, and self-employed professionals across hospitality, healthcare, and other verticals, operating as a single-location member of Germany's ETL-Gruppe network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Advisory Services

NAICS

Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121), Other Accounting Services (541219)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS) (BPAHABAF)

Keywords

• Tax advisory services
• Financial accounting
• Payroll processing
• Business consulting
• Annual financial statements

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tax Advisory Services: Core tax consulting services including tax planning, tax return preparation, tax compliance, representation before tax authorities and tax courts, and support during tax audits. Revenue is generated through professional service fees, typically billed according to the German Tax Advisor Remuneration Regulation (StBVV) or negotiated fee agreements.
2. Financial Accounting (Buchhaltung): Setup and management of financial accounting including asset accounting, special bookkeepings for car dealerships, craftsmen and health professionals, monthly VAT returns, consolidated reports (ZM), and monthly management accounting reports (BWA).
3. Financial Statements and Tax Returns: Preparation of annual financial statements under commercial and tax law, Einnahme-Überschuss-Rechnungen (EÜR), VAT returns, trade tax returns, corporation tax returns, profit determinations, and private tax returns including income and inheritance tax.
4. Payroll Processing (Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung): Comprehensive payroll processing with certified Fachkräfte, fixed contacts, GDPR compliance, processing through a high-performance data center in Germany (Saarbrücken), certified to ISO 27001/9001. The ETL Group processes over 6 million payroll calculations annually nationwide.
5. Business Advisory (Betriebswirtschaftliche Beratung): Business development consulting including business start-up advice, long-term operating forecasts, financing alternatives analysis (purchase, leasing, loans, factoring, mezzanine), cost-benefit analyses, economic development support, financial analyses, and retirement/wealth-building advice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH is a full-service tax advisory and accounting firm offering Klassische Steuerberatung (tax advisory), Finanzbuchhaltung (financial accounting), Bilanzen und Steuererklärungen (annual financial statements and tax returns), Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung (payroll processing), and Betriebswirtschaftliche Beratung (business consulting) to SMEs, freelancers, and self-employed professionals. The firm operates as a member of the ETL-Gruppe network and adds sector-specialized sub-brands (ETL ADHOGA for hospitality, ETL ADVISION for healthcare) plus proprietary digital tools such as the ETL PISA document archiving portal.

Product overview

ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH is a full-service tax advisory and accounting firm headquartered in Hannover, Germany, operating as part of the ETL Group — one of Germany's leading tax advisory networks with over 970 locations. The firm offers a unified portfolio of core tax, accounting, and payroll services complemented by specialized industry-specific sub-brands and proprietary digital tools. Core offerings include Klassische Steuerberatung (tax advisory), Finanzbuchhaltung (financial accounting), Bilanzen und Steuererklärungen (balance sheets and tax returns), Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung (payroll), and Betriebswirtschaftliche Beratung (business consulting). These are delivered alongside specialized sub-brands such as ETL ADHOGA for hospitality and ETL ADVISION for healthcare professionals, and proprietary digital platforms including the ETL PISA web-based document archiving portal and the ETL Kassencheck for cash register compliance. The firm also provides sustainability advisory services for CSRD compliance and e-invoicing advisory following Germany's 2025 mandate. Continuing education is supported by the internal ETL Akademie platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klassische Steuerberatung (Classical Tax Advisory)

Quantifiable outcome

• ETL Group processes over 6 million payroll calculations annually nationwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered key, minor and core.

• Climate ExtenderkeyTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Climate Extender developed the software used to calculate the firm's CO2 emissions balance (77 tonnes in 2022, per GHG Protocol scopes 1, 2, and 3). The firm was certified as a climate-neutral company on March 4, 2024, through Climate Extender's certified calculation and compensation services.
• TSV Hannover-Burgdorf Handball GmbH ('Die Recken')minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Official 'Partner im WirtschaftsClub' of the handball club 'Die Recken' since 2014, continuing for the 2024/2025 season. The partnership supports regional sports, community engagement, and local talent development. As a 'RECKEN-verändern' partner, the firm contributes to climate protection initiatives through the club.
• Women's Networking Lounge (WNL)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2011The firm's office is a member of the WNL, an ETL Group-wide business network for female entrepreneurs and executives. Founded in 2011, WNL has hosted approximately 500 evening events with ~8,000 attendees and is active at 40+ locations across Germany.
• ETL ADVISION Hannover GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner specializing in tax advisory for healthcare professionals (Heilberufler), providing targeted services for medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, and healthcare service providers.
• ETL AG WirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerETL Group's auditing entity with three auditors on-site at the Hannover office. The Hannover location functions as a branch of ETL AG, providing statutory and voluntary audit services tailored to SME needs.
• ETL ADHOGA Steuerberatungsgesellschaft AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner specializing in tax advisory for the hospitality and hotel industry (Hotellerie und Gastronomie), offering specialized solutions for hoteliers and restaurateurs.
• ETL-Rechtsanwälte (ETL Lawyers)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerETL Group's legal advisory arm. Cooperation includes joint events such as workshops, business brunches, and client evenings. They also provide a free family law/child support check (Unterhaltssprechstunde) and advise on commercial law matters from labor to traffic law.
• FHDW Hannover (Fachhochschule für die Wirtschaft)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of FHDW Hannover, a private university of applied sciences for economics. The partnership supports educational initiatives and provides the firm with access to graduate talent.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crowe Germany: German tax advisory and audit firm of the Crowe Global network with a Mittelstand orientation. Comparable full-service tax, accounting, and audit offering to German SMEs.
• Rödl & Partner: Germany-headquartered international tax, legal, and audit firm with strong Mittelstand and mid-market focus. Comparable in combining tax advisory with legal and audit services for SMEs, including cross-border capability.
• PKF WMS: German tax advisory and audit firm with a national footprint and Mittelstand focus. Similar full-service tax, accounting, and audit offering for SMEs, entrepreneurs, and freelancers.
• Ebner Stolz: German tax advisory, audit, and consulting firm with a strong Mittelstand focus and multiple industry verticals. Comparable full-service tax/accounting/audit offering for German SMEs, freelancers, and mid-market companies.
• HLB Stückmann: Hannover-based tax advisory, audit, and consulting firm also serving SMEs, freelancers, and mid-market clients. Closest geographic and size peer to ETL Treuhand Hannover, competing head-to-head in the same regional Mittelstand market.
• Flick Gocke Schaumburg: Leading independent German tax law firm with deep Mittelstand and corporate tax expertise. Comparable specialist tax advisory and structuring services for German enterprises and high-net-worth clients.
• Baker Tilly Germany: German member of the Baker Tilly network providing tax, audit, and advisory services to mid-market companies. Comparable offering across tax compliance, financial accounting, and business advisory for German SMEs.

Broad incumbents

• BDO Germany: Major German member of the global BDO network offering tax, audit, and advisory services across enterprise and mid-market. Overlaps with ETL Treuhand on SME tax and audit but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Mazars Germany: German member of the international Forvis Mazars network providing tax, audit, and advisory services. Comparable tax advisory and accounting services for SMEs and mid-market, but with a broader portfolio and significantly larger scale.

Others

• DATEV eG: German cooperative providing tax, accounting, and payroll software to tax advisors and SMEs. While not a direct competitor for advisory services, DATEV is the core technology backbone used by ETL Treuhand and a key enabler / potential disruptor of the traditional tax advisory model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/etlimkoenigshof
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/etl-treuhand-steuerberatungsgesellschaft-mbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/etl_treuhand_hannover

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ETL Treuhand Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH