Entry in the Register of Crafts and Crafts Similar to Crafts Subject to Authorisation

If you wish to exercise an unlicensed trade or a trade similar to a trade on a self-employed basis, you must notify your Chamber of Crafts of the start of the commercial activity.

The register of owners of a craft or craft-like trade that is not subject to licensing is a register in which all

• natural and
• legal entities and
• partnerships with legal capacity

who operate an unlicensed craft or craft-like trade must register. The crafts that are exempt from licensing are listed in Section 1 of Annex B to the Crafts Code.

These include:

• Watchmakers,
• goldsmiths and silversmiths,
• wood sculptors,
• sailmakers,
• shoemakers,
• millers,
• brewers and maltsters,
• textile cleaners,
• building cleaners,
• photographers,
• bookbinders and
• violin makers.

Trades similar to crafts are listed in Section 2 of Appendix B to the Crafts Code. These include:

• Iron weavers,
• floor layers,
• Metal grinders and metal polishers,
• vehicle recyclers,
• pipe and drain cleaners,
• ice cream makers,
• beauticians and
• Piano tuners.

In order for the register to be kept correctly, there is a legal obligation to notify the Chamber of Skilled Crafts of the start or termination of the independent operation of an unlicensed craft or craft-like trade. Notification of the start of the business triggers a procedure for entry in the register.

To the Chamber of Crafts in whose district your future business premises are located.

You can also complete the procedure electronically via the Point of Single Contact

The actual notification of the start of operation of an unlicensed craft or craft-like trade can be made informally. The following documents must be submitted for the registration procedure to be carried out thereafter:

Sole proprietorship:

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document.
• Copy of business registration (can be submitted later)

Civil law companies (GbR):

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification documents of the partners or persons authorized to represent the company
• Copy of the partnership agreement (if not informally concluded)
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later)

Legally capable commercial partnerships of the general partnership (OHG), limited partnership (KG) and corresponding foreign corporate forms:

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification documents of the partners or persons authorized to represent the company.
• for the proof of the entrepreneurial legal form
  • for company headquarters in Germany:
    • in the case of companies registered in the Commercial Register: an extract from the register, in the case of a general partnership also a copy of the partnership agreement
    • if the company has not been entered in the register: a copy of the articles of association
  • for foreign legal forms:
    • Extract from the register of the competent foreign register in the case of companies registered in registers, otherwise- copy of the memorandum and articles of association
• Copy of business registration (can be submitted later)

Legal entities - limited liability company (GmbH), limited liability entrepreneurial company (UG), joint stock company (AG), registered cooperative society (eG):

• Copies of the identity cards or comparable identification documents of the persons authorized to represent the company
• for the proof of the entrepreneurial legal form:
  • if the company is domiciled in Germany: excerpt from the commercial register or register of cooperatives
  • for foreign legal forms: Register excerpt of the competent foreign register
• Copy of business registration (can be submitted after entry in the register of skilled crafts)

• You independently carry out an unlicensed craft or craft-like trade.
• Registration covers anyone who carries out entrepreneurial activity in a craft or craft-like trade that is exempt from registration. The obligation to notify and register applies to the owners, in the case of partnerships to the partners and in the case of corporations to the authorized representatives (e.g. managing director of a limited liability company) of the respective company.

Immediately upon commencement of the trade activity

Advice and contact details of the Chambers of Crafts

https://www.handwerkskammer.de

List of all crafts and trades that do not require a licence

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hwo/anlage_b.html