Businesses Subject to Permission
When you open a business, either as an individual or a corporate entity, certain lines of business require permission and some only a registration. However, it can also happen that you do not need a permission to pursue your business, but you have to register it with a certain authority. Sound confusing, let's unravel the mystery businesses subject to permission.
What are the general rules? The general rule is that you are free to run any business you like; i.e. without permission. All trades and corporations must register their business. Applying for a permission requires that you have previously registered your business at the trade office (Gewerbeamt) in its municipality. The list below will show common examples where a license is necessary – next to registration at the trade office.
Accounting Firms
§§1 pIII, 28 ff. Gesetz über eine Berufsordnung der Wirtschaftsprüfer (WiPrO) at regional chamber of accountants
assuming you have no German training, the permission can be exclusively for the law of your respective country
Alternative Practitioner
§1 I Heilpraktikergesetz licensing at regional chamber of physicians
Arms, Weapons
All these mentioned lines of business require a license:
- Production and Trade §21 Waffengesetz
- Running Shooting Ranges §27 Waffengesetz
- Production and Trade of Military Weapons §§2 ff. Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz
Auctions
§34 b Gewerbeordnung
Aviation
- §6 Luftverkehrsgesetz (airports)
- §§20, 21 Luftverkehrsgesetz (carriers)
Banks
§§1 I cl. 2, 32 Kreditwesengesetz entry into Commercial Registry will only happen after permission has been shown to the registry, §43 Kreditwesengesetz
Bars, Pubs when serving alcoholic beverages
§2 Gaststättengesetz
Broker for Real Estate and Capital Investment Products
§34 c I cl. 1 no. 1 Gewerbeordnung
Casinos
§§1 ff. Spielbankengesetz of the Federal States
Collection Agencies
§1 I cl. 2 no. 5 Rechtsberatungsgesetz
Commodity Futures
§32 Kreditwesengesetz
Crafts
§§1, 7 Handwerksordnung entry into the Roll of Crafts; corporations require to show a certificate promising the entry in the Roll of Crafts prior to entry into Commercial Registry
Disposal Sites
§31 II Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Abfallgesetz
Distance or Remote Education
§12 Fernunterrichtsschutzgesetz
Driving School
§10 I Fahrlehrergesetz
Emigration Consultation
§1 Auswandererschutzgesetz
Employee Leasing
§§1 ff. Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz
Explosives: Handling, Vending, and Transportation
§§7, 27 Sprengstoffgesetz
Exposition / Ostentation of Persons
§33 a Gewerbeordnung
Facility with Harmful Effects to the Environment for opening and running
§4 Bundesimmissionsschutzgesetz
Ferry Operation
§39 I Landeswassergesetz of the Federal States
Financial Services
§§1 I a cl. 2, 32 Kreditwesengesetz
Gambling Halls, Penny / Amusement Arcades
§33 i Gewerbeordnung
Gaming Devices and Games with the Possibility to Win
§§33 c, 33 d Gewerbeordnung
Gas / Petrol Stations
§13 I no. 3 Betriebssicherheitsverordnung
Genetic Engineering Facitlities
§8 Gentechnikgesetz
Hospitals, Private General and Maternity
§30 Gewerbeordnung
Insurance Brokering
§34 d I GewO
Insurance Companies
§5 Versicherungsaufsichtsgesetz, §7 VAG, an insurance company is not permissible in the form of a GmbH
Investment Companies
§20 Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch
Legal Consultation; Conducting Legal Business of Third Parties
§§59 c ff BRAO; Art. 1 §1 Rechtsberatungsgesetz
Loan Brokering
§34 c I no. 1 b Gewerbeordnung
Lodging Establishments
(with more than eight guest beds) §2 IV Gaststättengesetz
Lotteries
§§1 ff. Lotterieverordnung of the Federal States
Mining, Detecting Natural Resources
§§6 ff. Bundesberggesetz
Nuclear Plants, Storage of Nuclear Fuel
§§6, 7 Atomgesetz
Old People's Home
§12 HeimG (duty to report)
Participation in Companies
§1 Gesetz über Unternehmensbeteiligungsgesellschaften
Passenger Transportation (Taxis, Busses, e.g.)
§2 Personenbeförderungsgesetz
Pawn Shops
§34 Gewerbeordnung
Piercing Studio
§1 I Heilpraktikergesetz
Postal Services (letter forwarding)
§5 I Postgesetz
Pharmacies
§8 Gesetz über das Apothekenwesen
not permitted to be run as a corporation
Pharmaceuticals
- §13 Arzneimittelgesetz (Production)
- §52 a Arzneimittelgesetz (Wholesale)
- §72 Arzneimittelgesetz (Import & Export)
Poisons, Trading with Poison
- §4 I, II Chemikaliengesetz: registration required prior to placing new substances on the market
- §12 a Chemikaliengesetz: permission prior to bringing new biocidal substances on the market
Rail Companies (Infrastructure / Operation)
§6 Allgemeines Eisenbahngesetz
Real Estate Development
§34 c II no. 2 a und b Gewerbeordnung
Recruitment / Employee Assignment
§§1 ff. Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz
Realtors, Real Estate Brokers
§34 c I no. 1 a Gewerbeordnung
Road Haulage
§3 Güterkraftverkehrsgesetz
Security Industry
§34 a Gewerbeordnung
Tax Consulting Companies
§§32 III, 49 ff. Steuerberatungsgesetz
recognition required when incorporating
Telecommunications
§6 I Telekommunikationsgesetz
Towing Services (for vehicles not needing repairs)
§3 Güterkraftverkehrsgesetz
Travel Business
§§55 ff. Gewerbeordnung
Traveling Performers / Carnies / Showmen
§55 I no. 2 Gewerbeordnung
Vivisections
§8 Tierschutzgesetz
Waste Disposal Plant
§31 I Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Abfallgesetz i.c.w. §4 Bundesimmissionsschutzgesetz
Waste Transport and Collection
§49 Kreislaufwirtschafts- und Abfallgesetz; §1 Transportgenehmigungsverordnung
Don't forget, applying for a permission requires that you have previously registered your business at the trade office (Gewerbeamt) in your municipality or applying simultanteously when registering your business. If you apply for a permission first without having registered your business you can be fined. Even if you are in a hurry, register first and then apply for a permission. Of course, best is to do both simultaneously.
We will typically support you in this regard on a time fee basis but are willing to negotiate a fixed prices after learning about the whole set-up.