Gewerbe anmelden

If you wish to start the independent operation of a permanent business, a branch or a dependent branch office, you must notify the competent authority at the same time.

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,
• New establishment of 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) GewO are exempt from the obligation to notify.

These 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. identity card or passport)
• In the case of electronic business registration, other means of identification are also possible (e.g. electronic ID card, De-Mail, PIN/TAN procedure)
• Extract from the commercial register (for legal entities or partnerships, e.g. OHG, KG)
• Supplement for authorized representatives

You want to run a business. Traders are natural or legal persons (public limited company, limited liability company, registered cooperative or registered association, partnership limited by shares). Notification is required for:

• sole traders of the sole trader
• partnerships (e.g. OHG, GbR) the partners authorized to manage the business
• KG each personally liable partner, the limited partners of a KG only if they have management authority
• Corporations (e.g. GmbH, AG) the legal representative

Administrative fees of EUR 32.00 are charged for business registration in accordance with the M-V Business Costs Ordinance of September 1, 2023.

You must notify the competent authority of the start of a permanent business. The same applies to the operation of a branch office or a dependent branch.

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

Find out at an early stage what personal, financial and professional requirements you need to fulfill in order to be able to operate in these business areas.

You can register your business in person, in writing or electronically. Use the "Business registration" form (GewA 1) for this purpose. If you are not registering the business yourself but as a managing partner or legal representative, you will need a written power of attorney.

If you register your business in writing or electronically, you will receive confirmation of your business registration (the so-called "trade license") within 3 days, provided you have filled out the registration form completely and correctly. If you come in person, you will receive the confirmation directly upon registration.

The responsible office will forward the business registration to other offices such as the tax office, the Chamber of Crafts or Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the registration office and the employers' liability insurance association.

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

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

• If you come in person: immediately
• In the case of written or electronic registration: within 3 days, provided the business registration form has been filled out completely and correctly and the required documents are available

You must register your business immediately when you set up your business. A fine may be imposed for late notification.

If you change your legal form, you must submit both a business deregistration (to cease operating under the old legal form) and a business registration (to start operating under the new legal form).

What is a trade:

A trade is any activity that is not socially unvaluable, is intended to make a profit, is intended to be permanent and is carried out independently in its own name and for its own account. It does not matter whether a profit is actually made.

In particular, activities of no social value, liberal professions (such as doctors, lawyers or tax consultants) or other activities that require a university degree are not considered a trade. Primary production (e.g. agriculture and forestry), scientific management consultancy or the management of one's own assets (e.g. a block of flats) as well as generally prohibited or socially unworthy 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 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.

• Lord mayors/mayors of independent cities and large towns belonging to districts
• Head of the office or mayor of the independent municipalities

Forms can be obtained from the responsible office or on the Internet.