Independent consultant + minijob for the same company

Hi everyone,

I’d really appreciate some advice or feedback on a job offer situation in Germany that I find quite confusing.

I’ve been offered what is presented as a “permanent position” in Berlin. However, instead of a standard employment contract, the company proposes a combination of two arrangements:

A mini-job (around 10 hours/week, ~650€ per month) directly with them

A separate “independent consultant” contract through a third-party company

For the consulting part, I would need to create my own small limited company (UG – Unternehmergesellschaft) with around 500€ capital, and invoice about 2,600€ + VAT per month.

So on paper, it looks like around 3,700€ total monthly, but from what I understand:

the consulting income goes to the company (UG), not directly to me

I would need to pay several taxes as a company owner

then pay myself (salary or dividends), reducing the actual net income significantly

What concerns me:

I would effectively work for one company, but partly as an employee and partly as a freelancer

there is an intermediary company for the consulting part

the setup feels quite complex for what seems to be a standard full-time role

My situation:

I’m a French citizen planning to move to Berlin for 2–3 years to gain experience, then return to France. I’m also concerned about the administrative burden of creating and later closing a UG.

My questions:

Has anyone experienced a similar setup in Germany?

Is this common or a red flag?

Could this be considered “Scheinselbstständigkeit”?

Would it be more reasonable to ask for a simple freelance contract instead?

Or is it better to avoid this kind of arrangement altogether?

Any honest feedback or experience would be greatly appreciated 🙏

Thanks and sorry for this loooooooong text !