Serviceportal–Baden-Württemberg
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Procedure descriptions
Register a business
You must register your business whenever you start an established business. An ‘established business’ refers to a business with a permanent place of business from which, or within which, the business is carried out. This is the case if you
- set up a new business,
- set up a new branch,
- set up a new dependent branch,
- take over an existing business, for example by purchase or lease,
- convert a sole trader business into a different legal form,
- relocate a business from the jurisdiction of one authority to that of another. From 1 November 2025, it will no longer be required.
You must register your business at the same time as you commence trading. The obligation to register applies only if the activity is a commercial one.
The following are exempt from the requirement to register a business:
- Primary production such as livestock farming, arable farming, hunting, forestry and fishing
- Liberal professions, including, amongst others, solicitors, notaries, tax advisers, auditors, doctors, and scientific, artistic and literary activities
- Management of one’s own assets
The purpose of registering a business is to enable the relevant authorities to monitor the conduct of business and to carry out statistical surveys.
Forms/Online Services
Responsible authority
the local authority of your future place of business
Details
Prerequisite
You wish to run a business.
Traders are
- natural persons or
- legal entities, such as a public limited company (AG), a limited liability company (GmbH), a registered co-operative (eG) or a registered association (e.V.), and a partnership limited by shares (KGaA).
The following are subject to a registration requirement:
- in the case of sole traders, the sole trader,
- in the case of partnerships (e.g. OHG, GbR), the partners authorised to manage the business,
- in the case of a KG, every general partner; limited partners of a KG are only required to register if they have management authority,
- in the case of companies limited by shares (e.g. GmbH, AG), the authorised representative.
Procedure
You must register the commencement of a permanent business with the relevant authority. The same applies to the operation of a branch or a dependent branch.
Some business activities require a licence. Others are subject to regulatory oversight. Additional requirements apply to these.
Find out in good time what personal, financial and professional requirements you must meet in order to operate in these business sectors.
You can register your business in person, online, by post or by fax.
- If you register in person or in writing, you must complete the ‘Business Registration’ form (GewA 1) and sign it in person. The ‘GewA 1’ form is available from the office responsible for registrations or, depending on the service offered, can also be downloaded.
- You can also register your business via the Network of Single Points of Contact.
The relevant authority will forward the business registration to other bodies such as the tax office, the employers’ liability insurance association, the Chamber of Crafts, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and, where applicable, the registry court.
Deadlines
You must register your business immediately upon commencing trading. A fine may be imposed if you fail to register on time.
Required documents
- Proof of identity, for example by means of an identity card or passport accompanied by a certificate of residence
- In the case of electronic business registration, other means of identification are also possible, for example an electronic identity card, De-Mail, or the PIN/TAN procedure
- a notarised articles of association or an extract from the commercial register
Costs
The amount of the charges is determined in accordance with the local authority’s schedule of charges.
Processing time
Within three days, provided that the business registration form has been completed fully and correctly and the necessary documents have been submitted.
Miscellaneous
In some cases, you may be required to provide further documents or supporting evidence. Please check with the relevant authority.
Additional requirements apply to businesses that require a licence or are subject to supervision.
If you are registering a catering business from 1 January 2026, please note the additional information in the factsheet on the State Catering Act for catering business operators.
If you wish to visit in person, you may need to book an appointment in advance. Please check with the relevant authority.
Detailed information
When you change your legal form, you must file both a trade deregistration (for ceasing to operate under the old legal form) and a trade registration (for starting to operate under the new legal form).
What is a trade:
A trade is any activity that is not socially unvaluable, is intended to generate a profit, is intended to be permanent, and is carried out independently in one's own name and for one's own account. It does not matter whether a profit is actually made.
In particular, socially unvaluable activities (e.g. clairvoyance), liberal professions (such as doctors, lawyers or tax consultants) or other activities that require a university degree are not trades. Nor are primary production (e.g. agriculture and forestry), scientific management consultancy or the management of one's own assets (e.g. an apartment building) as well as generally prohibited or socially unvaluable activities (e.g. illegal gambling).
Legal basis
Gewerbeordnung (GewO):
- § 11 Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten; Verordnungsermächtigung
- § 14 Anzeigepflicht
- § 15 Empfangsbescheinigung
- § 6b Absatz 1 GewO und § 71a ff. LVwVfG in Verbindung mit §§ 1 ff. des Gesetzes über einheitliche Ansprechpartner für das Land Baden-Württemberg (EAG BW) (Verfahren über eine einheitliche Stelle, einheitliche Ansprechpartner)
Verordnung zur Ausgestaltung des Gewerbeanzeigeverfahrens (GewAnz)
Landesverwaltungsverfahrensgesetz BW (LVwVFG):
- § 3a elektronische Kommunikation
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 02.09.2026