Travel trade; notification of an activity not requiring a permit

If you wish to sell or purchase goods, offer services, seek orders for services or operate as a showman on a commercial basis outside a commercial establishment or without the existence of such an establishment without a prior order, you generally require a permit (itinerant trade license) (for more information, see "Related topics" - "Itinerant trade; permit").

However, certain activities do not require a traveling trade card (see "Related topics" - "Occasional offering of goods for sale; applying for a permit"). However, some of these activities are instead subject to notification to the municipality, unless the trade is already subject to trade notification. These are

• the distribution of goods, the purchase of goods, the offering of services or the solicitation of orders for services in the municipality of one's place of residence or commercial establishment, provided the municipality has no more than 10,000 inhabitants,
• the sale of foodstuffs or other everyday goods from a non-fixed sales outlet or other establishment at regular, shorter intervals at the same location,
• the offering for sale of printed matter on public roads, streets, squares or other public places.

In this respect, you must submit a trade notification to the responsible municipality. Local jurisdiction lies with the municipality in whose district you have your habitual residence.

• Valid identity card or passport
• Trade ad
• For legal entities: Excerpt from the commercial register or comparable registration documents from abroad (including a certified translation into the German language)
• For limited liability companies in the course of incorporation: a certified copy of the notarized memorandum of association and a power of attorney by the incorporators stating that the commercial activities will be commenced even prior to the limited liability company's registration in the commercial register.
• Minors: Authorization of the legal representative(s) and approval of the family court
• Authorization: Written power of attorney and the ID cards of both the grantor of the power of attorney and the grantee of the power of attorney

• Age of majority or authorization of the legal representative(s) and approval of the family court

Notification is required before the start of commercial activity.

EUR 25 to EUR 100 in accordance with the Schedule of Costs under the Costs Act (Tariff No. 5.III.5/23.5)