A "Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung" (GmbH) is a type of business entity in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It is similar to a limited liability company (LLC) in other jurisdictions. The main feature of a GmbH is that the owners, known as shareholders, have limited liability, meaning they are not personally responsible for the company's debts beyond their investment in the company. To establish a GmbH, a minimum share capital of €25,000 is required, with at least half paid up at the time of registration. This structure is popular among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to its flexibility and the protection it offers to its owners.