Serviceportal–Baden-Württemberg
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Procedure descriptions
Deregister a business
If you wish to cease trading, you are obliged to deregister your business.
If you change the legal form of your business, you must also deregister it. Firstly, you must deregister your business under its previous legal form. You must then re-register your business under the new legal form.
If you relocate the head office of your business, or a branch or a dependent branch of your company, to a new location without any change to the area of jurisdiction within the local authority, a change of business registration is sufficient.
The deregistration must be carried out by the following persons or their authorised representatives:
- in the case of sole traders, by the trader themselves,
- in the case of limited companies, such as a GmbH or AG, by the statutory representatives.
In the case of partnerships, such as OHG, KG, GbR/BGB partnership or GmbH & Co. KG, all partners authorised to manage the business must each submit a deregistration notification.
Responsible authority
the local authority of the previous place of business
Details
Prerequisite
- Closure of a business or
- change of legal form of your business
Procedure
You can deregister your business in person, online, by post or by fax. You can also deregister via the Single Point of Contact network.
- If you are deregistering in person or in writing, you must complete the ‘Business Deregistration’ form (GewA 3) and sign it in person. The ‘GewA 3’ form is available from the office responsible for deregistration or, depending on the service offered, can also be downloaded.
- Upon receipt of your business deregistration, you will be issued with a certificate by the relevant authority.
- The authority responsible for the deregistration will forward the business deregistration to other bodies, such as the tax office, the employers’ liability insurance association, the Chamber of Skilled Crafts or the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and, where applicable, the registry court.
Deadlines
You are obliged to deregister your business when you cease trading or change its legal form.
Required documents
- Proof of identity, for example an identity card or passport accompanied by a certificate of residence. When re-registering a business electronically, the relevant authority may use other suitable and appropriate methods to verify your identity, such as PIN/TAN procedures, the electronic ID function, De-Mail or a self-declaration of identity.
- A copy of the extract from the Commercial Register, if your company is entered in the Commercial Register; the same applies to the Register of Co-operatives, the Register of Associations and the Register of Foundations
Costs
The amount of the charges is determined in accordance with the local authority’s schedule of charges.
Processing time
If you have completed the form correctly and your documents are in order, the relevant authority will issue you with a confirmation of receipt of your deregistration immediately, or within three days, if you visit in person. If you submit your deregistration in writing or electronically, you will receive confirmation of receipt of your business deregistration within three days.
Miscellaneous
If it is clearly established that your business has ceased trading and you do not deregister it, the deregistration will be carried out automatically by the authorities.
If you wish to visit in person, you may need to make an appointment in advance. Please check with the relevant authority.
Legal basis
Gewerbeordnung (GewO):
- § 14 Anzeigepflicht
- § 15 Empfangsbescheinigung
- § 55c Anzeigepflicht bei Reisegewerbe
- § 6b Absatz 1 GewO und § 71a fortfolgende LVwVfG in Verbindung mit §§ 1 fortfolgende des Gesetzes über einheitliche Ansprechpartner für das Land Baden-Württemberg (EAG BW) (Verfahren über eine einheitliche Stelle, einheitliche Ansprechpartner)
Landesverwaltungsverfahrensgesetz (LVwVfG):
- § 3a elektronische Kommunikation
Gewerbeanzeigeverordnung (GewAnzV)
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 02.09.2026