Eintragung in das Verzeichnis zulassungsfreier Handwerke oder in das Verzeichnis handwerksähnlicher Gewerbe beantragen

If you would like to independently pursue a craft that does not require a licence or a trade-like trade, you must notify your Chamber of Crafts of the start of the commercial activity.

The list of proprietors of a craft or a craft similar to a craft is a register in which all

• natural and
• legal entities, as well as
• partnerships with legal capacity

who are engaged in a craft or trade-like trade that does not require a licence. The crafts that do not require a licence are listed in Section 1 of Annex B to the Crafts Code.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Watchmaker
• goldsmiths and silversmiths,
• Wood sculptors,
• Sailmaker
• Schumacher
• Miller
• brewers and maltsters,
• Textile cleaners,
• Cleaner
• Photographers
• Bookbinder and
• Luthier.

The trades-like trades are listed in Section 2 of Annex B to the Crafts Code. These include, but are not limited to:

• Iron braider,
• Floor layers,
• metal grinders and metal polishers,
• Vehicle recyclers,
• pipe and sewer cleaners,
• Ice cream makers,
• Beauticians and
• Piano tuner.

In order for the register to be kept correctly, there is a legal obligation to notify the Chamber of Crafts of the start or end of the independent operation of a craft or trade-like trade that does not require a licence. The notification of the start of operations triggers a procedure for entry in the register.

The actual notification of the start of operations of a craft or trade-like trade that does not require a licence can be made informally. For the registration procedure to be carried out thereafter, the following documents must be submitted:

Sole proprietorship:

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later)

Partnerships under civil law (GbR):

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification papers of the shareholders or authorized representatives
• Copy of the articles of association (unless informally concluded)
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later)

Commercial partnerships with legal capacity of the general partnership (OHG), limited partnership (KG) and corresponding foreign company forms:

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification papers of the shareholders or authorized representatives
• for proof of entrepreneurial legal form
  • at the company's registered office in Germany:
    • in the case of companies entered in the commercial register: extract from the register, in the case of the OHG additionally a copy of the articles of association
    • if no entry in the register has been made: copy of the articles of association
  • in the case of foreign legal forms:
    • Excerpt from the register of the competent foreign register for companies entered in registers, otherwise - copy of the articles of association
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later)

Legal entities – limited liability company (GmbH), limited liability entrepreneurial company (UG), stock corporation (AG), registered cooperative (eG):

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification papers of the persons authorised to represent the company
• for proof of entrepreneurial legal form:
  • at the company's registered office in Germany: Excerpt from the commercial or cooperative register
  • in the case of foreign legal forms: extract from the register of the competent foreign register
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)

• They carry out a craft or trade-like trade that does not require a licence on their own.
• As part of the registration, it is recorded who carries out the entrepreneurial activity in the craft or trade-like trade that does not require a licence. The obligation to notify and register applies to the owners, in the case of partnerships to the partners and in the case of corporations to the authorized representatives (e.g. GmbH managing directors) of the respective company.

Immediately upon commencement of business activity

• List of proprietors of an establishment of a craft or a craft similar to a craft subject to authorisation - Registration
• If a craft that does not require a licence or a trade-like trade is to be carried out independently, this must be reported to the locally competent Chamber of Crafts and an entry in the register of the owners of a business of a craft without a licence or a trade-like trade must be applied for
• entry in the register of holders of a craft or a craft similar to a craft that is not subject to authorisation is possible for:
• natural or legal persons, and
• partnerships with legal capacity
• no proof of qualification is required for entry in the register
• Master craftsman's title for unlicensed crafts can be acquired voluntarily
• responsible: Chamber of Crafts in whose district the commercial establishment is located

Contact the Chamber of Crafts (HWK) in whose district your future business premises are located.