In the title compound, [Ge(C8H14NO)(2)Cl]CF3SO3, which is the first complex containing an eight-membered lactam (enantholactam) as ligand, the coordination polyhedron of the Ge-IV atom is intermediate between trigonal-bipyramidaland square-pyramidal. Quantum chemical calculations of the crystal structure indicate the absence of additional coordination bonding between the Ge-IV atom and the trifluoromethanesulfonate anion.