Once your GmbH or your UG has been entered into the commercial register, you must still register your company with the responsible trade office. In this article, we will show you step-by-step how the registration of a limited liability company works and how to correctly complete the business registration form.
When must a GmbH or a UG register a business?
The registration must be carried out for commercial enterprises before commencing operations. A business registration must be made for each place of business, such as offices, production facilities and sales premises. If a GmbH operates an office and separately a specialist shop, for example, then two registrations must be made.
A business registration is only not required for non-operative companies, such as holding companies, if the GmbH or UG only holds participations in other companies or properties without becoming active in terms of administration. In case of doubt, it is worthwhile to submit a written enquiry to the responsible trade office in order to clarify the question of whether you must register a business or are exempt from it.
Process of business registration for a GmbH or UG
- Find the responsible trade office
- Complete the form
- Submit the registration in person, by post or online
- Pay fees
- Start with the company
Find the responsible trade office
The easiest way to find the responsible trade office for your GmbH or UG is with the help of Google. It is best to use the search term “Gewerbeanmeldung in …”, such as “Gewerbeanmeldung in Berlin” or “Gewerbeanmeldung in Köln”.
Complete the form and submit the registration in person, by post or online
Once you have found the trade office responsible for your GmbH or UG, you still need to complete the correct form for business registration. In the past, this was only possible in paper form or in person. Today, more and more offices also offer online business registrations. In Berlin, the registration fees are even lower if you submit the registration online. In Bayern, you can complete the form with the help of an online assistant.
To online business registration in Berlin
To online assistant in Bayern
Forms of business registration for a GmbH or UG:
- Online: not possible in every city; in some municipalities you require an eID to carry out the registration.
- By post: Complete the form yourself and send it to the trade office. It is important that you enclose a copy of the commercial register extract and copies of the identity documents of all managing directors with the application. This form of registration usually takes the longest.
- In person: since the pandemic, it is usually only possible after making a prior appointment. The greatest advantage of this variant is that you receive the registration immediately and do not have to wait days or even weeks for the authority’s response. All managing directors must either appear in person at the appointment or authorise someone. (You can download a power of attorney here.)
The following documents are required for personal attendance:
- Form for business registration
- Commercial register extract
- Identity documents of all managing directors (copies are sufficient with power of attorney)
- if applicable, power of attorney, if not all parties appear in person
- The costs must be paid on site.
Business registration form – how to complete it correctly
Regardless of whether you register the business registration of your GmbH or UG on the traditional form or process it online, you always require the following information:
Information about the company:
- Company name
- HRB number of the GmbH or UG (you will find the HRB number on the commercial register extract)
- Name of the responsible register court
- Address of the registered office
- Address of the place of business to be registered, if different from the registered office
- Whether there is a public sector participation
Information about the planned activity:
- List of activities with distinction between main activity and secondary activities
- Date of commencement of activity
- Whether the activity requires a licence
- For craft businesses: craft card
Information about the managing directors:
- First and surnames
- Birth name, date of birth, place of birth
- Private address
- For foreign managing directors: residence permit
The business registration must be carried out before commencing operations and is required for each individual place of business such as offices, production facilities or sales premises. Non-operative companies such as holding companies that exclusively hold participations or properties are exempt from the registration obligation. In case of doubt, a written enquiry to the responsible trade office is recommended.
The process comprises five steps: find the responsible trade office, complete the form, submit the registration in person, by post or online, pay the fees and subsequently start business operations. The responsible trade office can most easily be found via Google search with the term “Gewerbeanmeldung in [city]”.
For personal attendance, the completed registration form, a commercial register extract and the identity documents of all managing directors are required. If not all managing directors appear in person, a power of attorney is additionally required. For postal submission, a copy of the commercial register extract and copies of the identity documents of all managing directors must be enclosed with the form.
The form requires information about the company (company name, HRB number, register court, registered office), about the planned activity (main and secondary activities, start date, licence requirement) and about all managing directors (name, birth details, private address). For foreign managing directors, the residence permit must additionally be stated.
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