Register business

You must register the start of a standing trade with the competent office. The same applies to the operation of a branch office or a dependent branch.

Some business 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 must meet in order to be able to operate in these trades.

You can register your trade in person, in writing or electronically. Use the form "Trade registration" (GewA 1) for this purpose.

If you as a trader do not register the trade yourself, but as a managing partner or legal representative, you 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 "Gewerbeschein") within 3 days, provided you have filled out the registration form completely and correctly. If you appear in person, you will receive the confirmation directly at the time of registration.

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

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

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

Chambers of industry and commerce, chambers of skilled trades, districts, independent cities, the responsible local authorities or administrations of the independent municipalities will support you in registering your business.

Alternatively, you can contact the Single Point of Contact in Rhineland-Palatinate.The Single Point of Contact is a public office through which you can handle all administrative procedures and formalities required for the commencement and exercise of your service activity and for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Further information can be found on the website of the Point of Single Contact.

• Website - Single point of contact Rhineland-Palatinate

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the local trade offices are responsible, optionally the relevant chamber for member companies of the IHK/HWK.

You want to operate a trade. Traders are natural persons or legal entities (stock corporation, limited liability company, registered cooperative or registered association, partnership limited by shares). The following are subject to notification:

• Sole traders the sole trader,
• partnerships (e.g. OHG, GbR) the managing partners,
• KG every personally liable partner, the limited partners of a KG only if they have management authority.
• corporations (e.g. GmbH, AG) the legal representative

• 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).
• Notarized articles of association or excerpt from the commercial register, consent of the shareholders (in the case of legal entities or partnerships)
• Declaration of consent of shareholders
• Supplementary sheet for authorized representatives

You must register your trade immediately at the time you start your business. A fine may be imposed in the event of late notification.

• In case of personal appearance: immediately
• In case of written or electronic registration: within 3 days, provided that the business registration form has been filled in completely and correctly and the required documents are available.

• § 14 Gewerbeordnung (GewO)
• § 15 Gewerbeordnung (GewO)
• § 11 Gewerbeordnung (GewO)
• Gewerbeanzeigeverordnung (GewAnzV)

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).

03.04.2025