Register a business
Service description
A business registration is always necessary if you start a permanent business. A permanent business means a business with a fixed place of business from or in which the business is carried out. This is the case if you:
- set up a new business,
- establish a new branch office,
- establish a new dependent branch,
- take over an existing business, for example by purchase or lease,
- convert a sole proprietorship into another legal form,
- relocate a business from the area of one authority to the area of another authority (for one authority, this is deemed to be a discontinuation of the business, for the other authority, a new establishment).
You must register your business at the same time as you start operating it. The obligation to register only applies if it is a commercial activity.
The following are exempt from business registration:
- Primary production (livestock farming, agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing)
- Liberal professions
- Management of own assets
Find out at an early stage what personal, financial and professional requirements you need to fulfill in order to be able to work in these sectors.
The purpose of registering a trade is to enable the competent authorities to monitor the exercise of the trade and to carry out statistical surveys.
Procedure
You can register your business in person, online, by post or fax.
- If you register in person or in writing, you must complete the "Business Registration" form (GewA 1) and sign it personally.
- The competent authority certifies receipt of the business registration if the registration form has been completed in full
- The responsible office forwards the business registration to other offices, such as the tax office, the employers' liability insurance association, the Chamber of Crafts, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and, if applicable, the registration court.
- The procedure can be handled by a single point of contact. You have a legal right to electronic processing.
Prerequisites
You want to run a business.
Traders are
- natural persons or
- Legal entities, e.g. stock corporation (AG), limited liability company (GmbH), registered cooperative (eG) or registered association (e.V.), partnership limited by shares (KG)
The following must be reported:
- in the case of sole traders, the sole trader,
- in the case of partnerships (e.g. OHG, GbR), the partners authorized to manage the company
- in the case of a limited partnership (KG), each personally liable partner, the limited partners of a KG only if they have management authority
- in the case of corporations (e.g. GmbH, AG), the legal representative(s).
What documents are required?
- Proof of identity (e.g. identity card, passport or registration certificate)
- Notarized articles of association or extract from the commercial register,
- Supplement authorized representatives
What deadlines do I have to observe?
You must register your business as soon as you start operating. A fine may be imposed for late registration.
Processing time
- If you come in person: immediately
- In the case of written or electronic registration: within 3 days, provided the business registration form has been filled out completely and correctly and the required documents have been submitted.
Legal basis
Applications / Forms
Special information for - City of Idar-ObersteinIf your place of business is in the Idar-Oberstein city area, you can also register online using the following link:
If your company is located outside the city of Idar-Oberstein, please contact your local authority.