Business registration

Gründerab 9 J.

The first step to self-employment in Germany: register your business at the trade office. Cost: €15–65. Takes 15 minutes. Afterwards, the tax office contacts you automatically.

How to register a business (Gewerbe) in Germany:

Step 1: go to the trade office of your town/municipality (or online, possible in many cities).

Step 2: fill in the form:

• Personal details
• Type of business (e.g. "online retail of textiles")
• Business premises (your home address is enough to start with)

Step 3: pay the fee: €15–65 (depending on the city).

What happens next:

• The tax office sends you a tax registration questionnaire
• You receive a tax number
• The Chamber of Commerce/Crafts is informed automatically (compulsory membership)
• You are now officially a trader!

Small business rule: with turnover under €22,000/year you don't have to charge VAT (simplifies bookkeeping enormously). Ideal for getting started.

Did you know? Freelance professionals (e.g. programmers, designers, doctors, lawyers) do NOT need to register a business – they register directly with the tax office. Whether you count as a freelancer or a trader is decided by the tax office.

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