Gewerbe anmelden

A business registration is always necessary when you start a standing business. This is the case when

• Setting up a new business,
• setting up a new branch office,
• setting up a dependent branch office,
• Takeover of an existing business, e.g. by purchase or lease,
• conversion of a sole proprietorship into another legal form,
• relocation of a business from the area of one authority to the area of another authority (counts as a discontinuation for one authority and as a new establishment for the other authority).

The business registration must be made at the same time as the start of operations.

• The obligation to notify only applies if the activity is a commercial activity. The activities listed in Section 6 (1) sentence 1 GewO are exempt from the obligation to notify.
  Excluded are, among others

• Primary production (livestock farming, agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing)
• Liberal professions (including lawyers, notaries, tax consultants, auditors, doctors, scientific, artistic and literary activities)
• Education of children for remuneration
• Teaching

The purpose of registering a trade is to enable the competent authority to monitor the exercise of the trade and to carry out statistical surveys.

• Completed business registration form
• Proof of identity (e.g.: ID card or passport)
• In the case of electronic business registration, other identification options are also possible (e.g. electronic identity card, De-Mail, PIN/TAN procedure).
• Notarized articles of association or excerpt from the commercial register, consent of the shareholders (in the case of legal entities or partnerships)
• Declaration of consent by shareholders
• Supplement for authorised representatives

You want to run a business. Traders are natural or legal persons (joint-stock company, limited liability company, registered cooperative or association, partnership limited by shares). The following must be notified:

• Sole proprietorships, the sole trader,
• Partnerships (e.g. OHG, GbR) the shareholders authorized to manage the company,
• KG any personally liable partner, the limited partners of a KG only if they have management authority
• Corporations (e.g. GmbH, AG) the legal representative

You must register the start of a standing trade with the competent authority. The same applies to the operation of a branch office or a dependent branch.

Some commercial activities require a permit. Others are subject to surveillance. Additional requirements apply to them.

Find out at an early stage which personal, financial and professional requirements you must meet in order to be able to work in these commercial areas.

You can register the business in person, in writing or electronically. To do this, use the form "Business Registration" (GewA 1).

If, as a trader, you do not register the trade yourself, but as a managing partner or as a legal representative, you need a written power of attorney.

In the case of written or electronic business registration, you will receive confirmation of your business registration (the so-called "trade license") within 3 days, provided that you have completed the registration form completely and correctly. If you come in person, you will receive the confirmation directly when you register.

The competent authority forwards the business registration to other bodies such as the tax office, the Chamber of Crafts or the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the registration court and the employers' liability insurance association.

If an additional permit is required for your business (e.g. security trade, operation of a restaurant) and this is not available, the competent authority can prohibit the continuation of the operation.

The procedure can be handled by a single point of contact.

• In case of personal visit: immediately
• In the case of written or electronic registration: within 3 days, provided that the business registration form has been completed completely and correctly and the required documents are available.

You must register your business immediately at the time of setting up the business. In the event of late notification, a fine may be imposed.

In the event of a change in the legal form, you must submit both a business deregistration (for the cessation of operations under the old legal form) and a business registration (for the commencement of operations under the new legal form).

What is a trade:

A trade is any activity that is not socially unworthy, profit-oriented and long-term, carried out independently in its own name and for its own account. It does not matter whether a profit is actually made.

In particular, socially unworthy activities (e.g. clairvoyance), liberal professions (such as doctors, lawyers or tax consultants) or other activities that require a university degree are not a trade. Primary production (e.g. agriculture and forestry), scientific management consulting or the management of one's own assets (e.g. an apartment building) as well as generally prohibited or socially unvaluable activities (e.g. illegal gambling) are also not a trade.

A business registration is always necessary when you start a standing business. This is the case with

• Establishment of a new establishment,
• Establishment of a new branch,
• Establishment of a new dependent branch,
• Takeover of an existing business, e.g. by purchase or lease,
• conversion of a sole proprietorship into another legal form,
• Transfer of an establishment from the area of one authority to the area of another authority (considered a task by one authority, a new establishment by the other authority).

The business registration must be carried out at the same time as the start of the operation.

Chambers of Industry and Commerce, Chambers of Crafts, districts, independent cities, the responsible official administrations or administrations of the unincorporated municipalities support you in registering your business. The procedure can be carried out through the Network of Points of Single Contact.