Register a cooperative

A cooperative is a company with unlimited and freely changing number of members. Its purpose is to promote the acquisition or economy of its members by means of a joint business operation.

However, the cooperative is not limited to purely economic activities. Through joint operations, the cooperative can also promote the social or cultural interests of its members.

A cooperative must be entered in the register of cooperatives. The registration must be made by all members of the board. Registration by an authorised representative is excluded.

After successful registration, you will receive a registration notification.

Hint: The cooperative entered in the register of cooperatives is a legal entity with legal capacity and, due to the form of company chosen, is automatically a merchant.

The registration takes place at the competent register court of the state of Hesse. The competent court is the register court in whose district the cooperative has its registered office.

• Registration
• Statutes, signed by the comrades
• Copy of the certificates on the appointment of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board
• Certificate of an auditing association for the approval of the accession of the cooperative as well as expert opinion of this association on the possible threat to the interests of members or creditors

Hint:

The application must be submitted electronically in notarized form.

In the application, please also state what power of representation the members of the Board of Management have.

The amount of the fee for registration is determined by the Act on Costs of Voluntary Jurisdiction for Courts and Notaries (GNotKG) in conjunction with the Ordinance on Fees in Commercial, Partnership and Cooperative Register Matters. In addition, expenses are incurred for the public announcement of the registration.