Document background
The Contractor Offer Letter is a crucial document used in German business practice when engaging independent contractors (Selbstst盲ndige) for specific projects or services. It serves as the formal initiation of a commercial relationship, distinct from employment, and must comply with German civil law (BGB) and commercial law (HGB) requirements. This document is typically used when a company has identified a suitable independent contractor and wishes to formally propose engagement terms. The letter includes essential elements such as project scope, compensation, duration, and working arrangements, while carefully avoiding language that could suggest an employment relationship. It often precedes or accompanies more detailed service agreements and is particularly important in Germany where clear distinction between contractors and employees is strictly regulated to prevent pseudo-self-employment (Scheinselbst盲ndigkeit).
