Register business
service description
A business registration is always necessary when you start a permanent business operation. A permanent business operation means a business with a fixed place of business from or in which the business is carried out. This is the case if you:
- establish a new business,
- establish a new branch,
- establish a new dependent branch,
- take over an existing business, for example by purchasing or leasing,
- convert a sole proprietorship into another legal form,
- relocate a business from the area of one authority to the area of another authority
You must register your business at the same time as you start operating.
Exempt from business registration are:
- Primary production facilities, that is:
- Livestock farming
- agriculture
- Hunting
- Forestry
- fishing
- Freelance professions
- Management of own assets
The registration must be made by the following persons or their authorized representatives:
- In the case of sole proprietorships: by the business owner themselves
- In the case of legal entities: by the legal representatives, this applies, for example, to limited liability companies (GmbH) and stock corporations (AG)
- In the case of partnerships: by all partners authorized to manage the business: this applies, for example, to general partnerships (OHG), limited partnerships with shares (KG), civil law partnerships (GbR), limited liability companies & limited partnerships (GmbH & Co. KG)
The purpose of business registration is to enable the competent authorities to monitor business operations and conduct statistical surveys.
requirements
As a business owner, you
- a natural person or
- a legal entity, for example a public limited company (AG), a limited liability company (GmbH), a registered cooperative (eG) or a registered association (e.V.), a limited partnership (KG), a limited partnership with shares (KGaA)
What documents are required?
- Business registration form (GewA 1)
- Proof of identity, for example
- Copy of ID card
- Copy of passport
- Registration certificate
- A notarized articles of association or a copy of the commercial register extract if your company is registered in the commercial register.
- For cooperatives: extract from the cooperative register
- For associations: extract from the register of associations
- Supplement for authorized representatives
What deadlines do I need to consider?
You must register your business immediately when you start operations. If you register late, you may be fined.
processing time
Once all information and documents are complete, you will receive a confirmation of receipt.
- In case of personal visit: immediately
- For written or online registration: within 3 days
legal basis
What else should I know?
If you relocate your business to the jurisdiction of a different municipality, you must register your business at the new location. Your old location will be automatically deregistered. This is not a simple change of address.
Applications / Forms