Business

Registering a business (Gewerbeanmeldung)

Anyone starting a trade or business must register it with the municipal trade office (Gewerbeamt), often online; the trade office notifies other authorities such as the tax office.

Last updated: 5 October 2026 · Draft – not yet editorially reviewed.

If you want to start a commercial business in Germany, you usually need to register it with the local trade office (Gewerbeamt / Ordnungsamt). The registration must be made when the business starts, and in some cases up to one month before the start of activity. 2 7

Who needs this

You must register if you start a self-employed business with a fixed place of business, such as a new main branch, branch office, dependent branch, takeover of an existing business, joining an existing partnership as a managing partner, conversion into another legal form, or relocation to a new city or federal state. 2 3 4
The duty to notify applies only if the activity is a commercial activity. 2 3
In Berlin, commercial activity is described as independent work done in your own name and for your own account, with the intention of making a profit and on a permanent basis. Some activities are exempt, including liberal professions, primary production, childcare for remuneration, education, management of one’s own assets, and prohibited or socially undesirable activities. 3
The person who must register depends on the legal form: sole traders, managing partners in partnerships, personally liable partners in a KG, and legal representatives in corporations such as GmbH or AG. 2 3 4 6 7

Step by step

Check whether your activity is a commercial business and whether it needs a permit, licence, or chamber registration. 3 6 7
Prepare the required documents for your legal form and, if needed, a power of attorney for a representative. 2 5 6 7
Submit the Gewerbeanmeldung to the local authority where the business will operate; in Berlin this can be done online or in person, in Hamburg by personal, written, or electronic filing, and in Cologne, Munich, and Stuttgart online or by local procedure depending on the city. 2 4 5 6 7
If your activity needs an approval, submit the relevant permit together with the registration. 6 7
The authority forwards the registration to other offices such as the tax office, IHK/HWK, the register court, and the Berufsgenossenschaft, depending on the city. 1 2 4
For tax matters, Hamburg states that the tax registration questionnaire (Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung) must be sent electronically via ELSTER within one month after opening the business. 4

Documents

Valid identity document, such as an identity card or passport. 1 2 4 5 6 7
Residence permit or residence title if you are not an EU national; Berlin and Munich specify that it must allow self-employed activity. 2 4 6 7
If applicable: permit or licence for the activity. 2 5 6 7
If applicable: proof of registration with the Chamber of Trades / Handwerkskammer for craft or craft-like activities. 2 5 6 7
If the business is entered in the commercial register: current register excerpt. 1 2 5 6
For companies being formed: notarised articles of association or statutes, plus consent declarations of the shareholders. 2 5 6
If represented by another person: written power of attorney. 5 6 7

Cost and time

Berlin: 26 euros for a sole business or per partner in a partnership; 31 euros for a legal entity with one legal representative; 13 euros for each additional representative; 15 euros for online filing. 2
Hamburg: 25 euros per partner in partnerships; 15 euros for a duplicate copy of the registration. 4
Cologne: 26 euros per trade registration or re-registration. 5
Munich: fee range 50 to 60 euros, depending on the legal form. 6
Stuttgart: 62 euros. 8
The general guide says the processing of a Gewerbeanmeldung usually takes a few days. Hamburg says the confirmation usually comes within 2 weeks if the form and documents are complete. Stuttgart says mail or email filings take longer, while in-person filing gives immediate confirmation. 1 4 7 8

Deadlines

The registration must be submitted at the start of business operations; Stuttgart allows submission up to one month before the start of activity. 2 7
Hamburg and Stuttgart say late filing can lead to a fine. 4 7

City by city

Berlin: online filing is available with or without a BundID account, and payment can be made online; the confirmation is sent to your BundID account, by post, or handed over in person depending on the filing method. 2
Hamburg: the tax questionnaire must be filed through ELSTER within one month after opening the business. 4
Cologne: an online trade registration is available through the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal Nordrhein-Westfalen, and the confirmation is issued immediately as a PDF. 5
Munich: online registration uses BayernID, which can be created with a username and password; no eID is required. 6
Stuttgart: registration can be done through service-bw.de, and the city also offers video consultation support. 7 8