Procedure descriptions
Register a business
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 dependent branch office,
- 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 (from 1 November 2025, it will no longer be necessary to deregister the business with the previously responsible authority) required).
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 (including lawyers, notaries, tax consultants, auditors, doctors, scientific, artistic and literary activities)
- Management of own assets
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.
Responsible authority
the municipal/city administration of your future business premises
Details
Prerequisite
You want to run a business.
Traders are
- natural persons or
- legal entities, e.g. public limited company (AG), limited liability company (GmbH), registered co-operative (eG) or registered association (e.V.), partnership limited by shares (KGaA).
The following must be notified:
- 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, each personally liable partner, the limited partners of a KG only if they have management authorisation,
- in the case of corporations (e.g. GmbH, AG), the legal representative.
Procedure
You must register the start of a permanent business with the competent authority. The same applies to the operation of a branch office or a dependent branch.
Some commercial activities require a licence. Others are subject to supervision. Additional requirements apply to them.
Find out at an early stage what personal, financial and professional requirements you need to fulfil in order to be able to operate in these business areas.
You can register your business in person, online, by post or fax.
- If you register in person or in writing, you must complete and personally sign the "Business Registration" form (GewA 1). The "GewA 1" form is available at the office responsible for the registration or, depending on the service, can also be downloaded.
- You can also register your business via the network of single points of contact.
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.
Deadlines
You must register your business as soon as you start operating. A fine may be imposed for late notification.
Required documents
- Proof of identity (e.g. identity card, passport with registration certificate)
- in the case of electronic business registration, other means of identification are also possible (e.g. electronic ID card, De-Mail, PIN/TAN procedure)
- notarised articles of association or extract from the commercial register
Costs
The amount of the fees is based on the municipal fee statutes.
Processing time
- If you come in person: immediately
- In the case of written or electronic registration: within three days, provided the business registration form has been filled out completely and correctly and the required documents have been submitted.
Miscellaneous
In some cases, you will need to submit further documents or evidence. Please enquire with the competent authority.
Additional special requirements apply to trades requiring a licence or 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 Businesses.
It may be necessary to make an appointment in advance for a personal visit. Please enquire at the responsible office.
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, 16.12.2025