Operating as a sole trader in Germany

Hello, could anyone help please?

i have a book i would like to sell online as PDF / e-book. i would like customers to be able to pay for it via credit card. i have my domain name and site and book all set but now need to get a PayPal account which would allow users to pay for the book online.

The problem is PayPal ask you to give the name and reigstration date of a company. i havent got one, and would like to avoid as much extra cost and bureaucracy as possible. Does anyone please have any advice on what to do? i went to the Handelskammer and they were not particulary helpful or friendly.

Do i need to be a sole trader, in which case will it mean lots more bureaucracy? i am already a freelance teacher in germany, have been here for 3 years - will this just mean a more complicated tax situation, or would it help tax affairs? Is there another way, maybe an easier (but still legit) way to do all of this?

I would be really grateful for any advice.

thank you
Desmond

You are already. (freelance teacher). What do you put on the incvoices you send out for this teaching?
It's paypal, not the German government !
(2c worth, take it with a pinch of salt)

I agree; you probably are already registered as Freiberuflich, so your company name is your name and the registration date is the date on the letter from the Finanzamt informing you of your tax number.