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Economic Development Dortmund
Registration of a Business
In general, an industrial business must be registered at the local Office
of Trade. But not every self-employed occupation automatically is an industrial
business. Some occupation groups do not belong to this category and do
not need to be registered. The latter are, for instance
- Freelancers
Freelance persons and enterprises do not need to register their business
at the local Office of Trade, but directly at the local Tax
Office (“Finanzamt”).
- Agriculture and forestry businesses
Agricultural and forestry businesses are treated the same as freelancers.
They register at the local Tax Office and not at the local Office of
Trade.
Special case: handicraft: Handicraft enterprises are subject to
special requirements – they have to be listed on the handicraft
register (“Handwerksrolle”) before having registered their
business at the Office of Trade. For more information, please contact
Dortmund Chamber of Handicraft
(“Handwerkskammer Dortmund”).
All other businesses are bound to announce their business at the local
Office of Trade. Branch offices, selling agencies,
and dependent subsidiaries have to be announced at the location of the
firm.
Preparation
Before having performed the registration of a business, the following
preparations have to be finished:
- For foreign enterprises: application for and receipt of a valid and
earmarked residence permit (“Aufenthaltsgenehmigung”,
cf. Alien Law)
- Foundation of the enterprise (cf. Setup
of a Business)
- Entry in the Register of Companies, if necessary or voluntarily
(cf. Register of Companies).
- Important: please make clear if you have a business subject
to authorization (cf. Needs of approval).
Registration
The registration of your business should take place at the same time
as the start of your business activities, at the latest a fortnight afterwards.
Otherwise you might have to pay high fines. For the registration of the
business, an authorised representative of the enterprise or someone authorized
by this representative has to appear personally.
Necessary Documents
Provided that you do not have a business subject to authorization you
will need the following documents for the registration:
- Business Registration Form (“Gewerbeanmeldeformular”,
to be received at the Business Registration Office (“Gewerbemeldestelle”))
- Identity card (“Personalausweis”) or passport
including valid registration certificate, if necessary, authorization
of the businessman.
- Excerpt from the Register of Companies (if available).
- Copy of the commercial lease.
- “Handicraft Card” (“Handwerkskarte”)
in case of entry in the “Handicraft Register” (“Handwerksrolle”,
available at the local Chamber of Handicraft – “Handwerkskammer”).
- The necessary residence permit for the registered business
(for foreign businessmen).
Costs
The current fee for the registration of a business including the
registration of an existing business moving from one location to another
is € 20. Afterwards, you will receive a trade licence.
A copy of your registration will be sent to the following institutions
automatically:
- the local Tax Office (cf. tax
authorities): for the registration of your company’s data
and the assignment of a tax number
- the “Employer’s Liability Insurance Association”
(“Berufsgenossenschaft”) (cf. accident
insurance): for the assignment of a company number for the statutory
accident insurance (“gesetzliche Unfallversicherung”) of
your employees
- the Regional Statistical Office (“Statistisches Landesamt”):
only for the statistical registration of your business, in general without
further contact with you
- the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and / or the Chamber
of Handicraft: because legally you are a compulsory member of these
organizations
- the Registration Court (“Registergericht”) (cf.
Register of Companies - Authority):
if you have a commercial business and thus have to be listed in the
Register of Companies
- the Employment Agency North Rhine-Westphalia ("Landesarbeitsagentur
NRW")
- the Labour Inspectorate
In general, these institutions will contact you automatically after a
certain period of time. But it should be recommended that you get into
contact with the institutions as soon as possible in order to check possible
questions.
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Needs of approval
Overview