Please note that there will currently be delays in processing your request due to unfortunate staff shortages in the trade registration office.
We apologize for the delay.

What is a trade?

The term "trade" is not defined by law. It has been formed through case law and literature. There is the term "trade" in the sense of building law, tax law, planning law and others. The term "trade" in the sense of trade law is understood to mean any self-employed activity that is permitted, aimed at making a profit and not only carried out occasionally. Exceptions to this are primary production (e.g. agriculture), management of own assets (e.g. rental property) and the so-called liberal professions (free scientific, artistic or literary activities, as well as services of a higher nature that require a higher education in order to exercise the profession, for example self-employment in a law firm, a notary's office, a tax consultancy, a doctor's practice or an architect's office).

Who may register a business?

According to § 1 of the Trade Regulation Act, anyone is permitted to operate a trade unless exceptions or restrictions are prescribed or permitted by the Trade Regulation Act (principle of freedom of trade).

Exceptions or restrictions:

These include, among others, the obligation to obtain a permit, entry in the register of craftsmen or the trade ban for foreign nationals.

Obligation to obtain a permit (not exhaustive):

• Restaurants/gambling halls
• Real estate agencies/real estate, financing
• Cabs, rental cars
• Road haulage
  Issuance of EC joint licenses
• Driving schools
• Pharmacies
  Permits issued by the public health department
• Temporary employment
  Permission granted by the State Labor Office, for Bonn the State Labor Office NW in Düsseldorf, Tel.: 0211-43060
• Security services
• Special type of trade: Travel trade license

You can obtain more information about these licensing requirements by clicking on the relevant request under "Related services" (see below)

Entry in the register of craftsmen

Only natural or legal persons (e.g. limited liability companies) and partnerships entered in the Register of Craftsmen are permitted to operate a craft on a self-employed basis.
Further information on registration in the Register of Craftsmen can be obtained from the Cologne Chamber of Crafts, Beratungszentrum Süd, Godesberger Allee 105-107, 53175 Bonn.

Trade ban for foreigners

Foreign nationals (exception: EU/EEA foreign nationals) who wish to carry out a commercial activity in Germany require a residence permit (issued by the responsible foreigners authority) and a work permit. If the residence permit contains the condition "self-employment or comparable dependent activity not permitted", please contact the Citizens' Services / Foreigners' Affairs / Nationality Law Department before registering your business.

Verification of reliability

For the types of business listed as requiring supervision in Section 38 (1) of the Trade Regulation Act, the competent trade authority must check the personal reliability of the trader immediately after submitting a trade notification of the start of the business activity ("trade registration"). For this purpose, the trader is obliged to apply for a certificate of good conduct and an extract from the central trade register for submission to the trade authority.

In addition, the trade authority may also require the trader to submit a current certificate of good conduct and a current extract from the central trade register for other types of trade in individual cases if it has reasonable grounds for concern that there is a risk of harm to important community assets as a result of the planned trade.

Business license card

For persons resident in Germany or abroad who wish to conduct business in other countries for a company based in the Federal Republic of Germany in their own person, the competent trade authority may issue a trade license card upon application (Section 55b (2) of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act)