Register business

Prerequisites

You relocate the head office, a branch office or a dependent branch office within the reporting district or

• They change or expand the goods and services offered that are not customary in commercial enterprises of the registered type.

You register your business

• as a sole trader or
• as legal representative of a legal entity (for example: GmbH, AG)

around.

Documents required

• Copy of the identity card or passport with registration certificate of the business owner, or presentation of the documents on site.
• When re-registering a business electronically, you must provide a self-declaration of identity.
• Copy of the commercial register extract (for legal partnerships, for example GmbH, AG, registered merchant), if your company is registered in the commercial register (also: cooperative register, association register)

Please note

You must re-register your business yourself or through a representative, authorized person:
in the case of sole proprietorships as a trader or businessperson,
in the case of legal entities (e.g. GmbH, AG), by their legal representatives.
In the case of partnerships (for example OHG, KG, GbR/BGB-Gesellschaft, GmbH & Co. KG), all partners authorized to manage the business must each re-register their business.

If you move your business to the jurisdiction of another registration district, you must first deregister the business at the previous location and then re-register it at the new location. This is not a reason to re-register.

If you expand your business to include an activity that requires a permit and the relevant authority does not have the relevant permit, the responsible authority can prevent you from continuing your business.

Activities that pose a potential risk to third parties and are therefore subject to special monitoring trigger a review of personal reliability by the responsible consumer protection, trade and environment department, the Chamber of Crafts or the Chamber of Commerce.
If you expand your business to include such activities that require monitoring, you must attach the documents required to verify your reliability.

If you change the nature of your business, you must also re-register your business. This is the case, for example, if you exclusively or additionally offer goods or services in your shop that are not customary in relation to your registered business. An example would be expanding a stationery store to include travel agency services.

Deadlines

You must re-register your business at the same time as the reason for the change of registration is given. If you register late, you may be fined.

Procedure

• You can re-register your business in person or in writing using a form or electronically. When re-registering your business using a form in written or electronic form, please enclose a copy of all required documents.
• If you re-register in person or in writing, you must fill out the "Business Re-Registration" form and sign it personally. You can get the "Business Re-Registration" form online.
• In the electronic process, you provide the same data as when you register in person. You do not need the form and do not have to sign it in person.
• You can also have your business re-registered by a person who has been proven to be authorized and identified in writing by the business owner.
• Send the documents to the responsible authority.
• The responsible authority will examine your documents and, if necessary, request further documents or information from you.
• The authority will inform you of the amount of the fees.
• You pay the fees.
• You will receive a certificate from the responsible authority for your business registration.
• The responsible authority forwards the business registration change to other authorities, such as the tax office, the professional association, the Chamber of Crafts or the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and, if necessary, the registry court.

Processing time

If you have filled out the form correctly and have the required documents, confirmation of the change of business registration will usually be given within two weeks. The processing time varies depending on the current situation.

Fees

• Depending on the alternative, a fee of 20.00 euros is charged for the certification of a change of business registration or it is free of charge.


• You can obtain a duplicate copy of the confirmation of the change of business registration for 10.00 euros.


• Changes due to, for example, name changes or expansion of activities are free of charge.

Legal remedies

No

Legal basis

§ 14 Trade Regulations (GewO)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__14.html




§ 15 Trade Regulations (GewO)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__15.html