Eintragung in das Verzeichnis zulassungsfreier Handwerke bzw. handwerksähnlicher Gewerbe beantragen

If you wish to work independently in a trade that does not require a license or a trade similar to a trade, you must immediately notify your Chamber of Skilled Crafts of the start of your commercial activity and apply for registration.

The register of owners of a craft that does not require a license or a trade similar to a craft is a register in which all natural and legal persons and partnerships that operate a craft that does not require a license or a trade similar to a craft must register.

Crafts that do not require a license are listed in Section 1 of Annex B of the Crafts Code. These include, among others

• Watchmakers
• Goldsmiths and silversmiths
• Wood sculptors
• sailmakers
• Shoemakers
• Millers
• Brewers and maltsters,
• Textile cleaners
• Building cleaners,
• photographers
• Bookbinders
• Violin makers

Trades similar to crafts are listed in Section 2 of Annex B of the Crafts Code. These include, among others

• Ironworkers
• floor layers
• Metal grinders and metal polishers
• Vehicle recyclers
• Pipe and sewer cleaners
• Ice cream maker
• beauticians
• piano tuners.

A complete list can be found in Annex B of the Crafts Code (HwO).

In order for the register to be kept correctly, there is a legal obligation to notify the Chamber of Skilled Crafts of the commencement or termination of self-employment in a craft or similar trade that does not require a license. Notification of the start of operations triggers a procedure for entry in the register.

The notification of the start of operation of a craft that does not require a license or a craft-like trade can be made informally. The following documents must be submitted for the subsequent registration procedure:

1. Natural persons:

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document

1. Companies under civil law (GbR):

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document of the partners
• Copy of the articles of association

1. Commercial partnerships, e.g. general partnership (OHG), limited partnership (KG) and corresponding foreign forms of company:

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document of the partners or persons authorized to represent the company
• Proof of legal form if the company is based in Germany:
  • Extract from the commercial register
  • Copy of the articles of association
• Proof of legal form for foreign legal forms:
  • Extract from the relevant foreign register, copy of the articles of association

1. Legal entities, e.g. limited liability company, entrepreneurial company (limited liability), public limited company, registered cooperative, etc:

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document of the persons authorized to represent the company
• Proof of legal form if the company is based in Germany:
  • Extract from the commercial register
  • Copy of the articles of association
• Proof of legal form for foreign legal forms:
  • Extract from the relevant foreign register, copy of the articles of association

No proof of qualification is required. There is only an obligation to notify and, in connection with this, an obligation to register in the register of trades not requiring a license or similar trades.

The specific fee can be found in the Chamber of Crafts' schedule of fees, which is available on the Chamber's website.

Display of the craft activity: before the start.

• List of owners of a business in a craft that does not require a license or a craft-like trade
• Legal obligation to register
• Entry in the register of proprietors of a business in a craft not requiring a license or a craft-like trade is possible for natural or legal persons and partnerships
• No proof of qualification is required for registration
• Deadline: Immediately upon commencement of commercial activity
• Application in writing or online with authentication
• Application form to download from the website of the relevant Chamber of Skilled Crafts or online application via administrative portals
• The registration fees are set out in the fee schedule of the respective Chamber of Skilled Crafts, which can be viewed on the Chamber's website
• Responsible: Chamber of Skilled Crafts in whose district the commercial establishment is located