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Trade Registration in Berlin After Setting Up a GmbH or UG: Process, Documents and Costs

Entry in the commercial register is done, the HRB number is in hand. You would like to get started now: first customers, first invoices, finally working instead of filling in forms. But one administrative step is still pending: trade registration. If the timing, responsibility and documents are clear, this step can be prepared well.
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Table of contents

At a glance

  • A GmbH or UG must register a trade when it takes up a commercial activity.
  • In principle, it must be registered at the same time as the start of the trade.
  • The public order office (Ordnungsamt) of the district in which the establishment to be registered is located is generally responsible.
  • GmbHs and UGs can currently also submit the registration online in Berlin via the service linked in the service portal.
  • Complete register data, a clear description of the activity and any required permits are particularly important.

How trade registration works

Does your GmbH or UG have to register a trade at all?

Whether trade registration is required also depends, for a GmbH or UG, on the activity actually carried out. If the company takes up a trade, it must register it. Exceptions may apply to activities that do not fall within the scope of the Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung). For activities shaped by professional law or other special cases, the classification should be clarified in advance with the competent public order office and, where applicable, with the competent professional chamber.

When must the GmbH or UG register the trade?

In principle, trade registration must take place at the same time as the start of the trade. In practice, it is advisable to prepare the documents in good time so that the registration can be submitted in full at the planned start of business. A late, incorrect or incomplete registration can constitute an administrative offence.
For a GmbH or UG that is already registered, trade registration is often carried out after receipt of the HRB number. In Berlin, registration is generally also possible during the formation phase. Additional formation documents are then required instead of the commercial register extract.
After notarisation and the commercial register filing, several further steps are pending. Depending on the time of the start of business, these include in particular trade registration and separate tax registration via ELSTER. Trade registration does not replace tax registration. The tax registration questionnaire for a corporation must generally be submitted electronically to the tax office within one month of the start of business.

Responsibility in Berlin: which office is the right one?

The public order office of the Berlin district in which the establishment to be registered is located is generally responsible. Registering with a different district office can lead to queries or forwarding. That causes delays, especially in the start-up phase. Therefore, clarify the responsibility before filling in the form.

Online or in person: which routes are there?

GmbHs and UGs can submit trade registration in Berlin online via the online service linked in the Berlin service portal. A BundID account is currently required for this. Alternatively, the registration can be submitted using the designated form to the competent public order office. The fee can currently only be paid by credit card. The trade registration confirmation is provided electronically in the BundID account. As technical requirements can change, the details should be checked again in the service portal before registering. Online registration can avoid journeys and an in-person appointment.

Consider activities requiring a permit separately

For an activity not requiring a permit, trade registration is generally sufficient. For certain activities, an official permit, entry in the register of craftsmen or other proof is additionally required. Trade registration does not replace these requirements. If your activity might require a permit, clarify this early to avoid delays in starting business.

Which documents do you need?

The exact list depends on whether your company is already registered or still in formation.

Generally required

  • trade registration form or online application
  • for non-electronic registration, an official identity document
  • for several legal representatives, the designated supplementary sheet
  • permits or other proof required depending on the activity

Additionally for a GmbH or UG already registered

  • current commercial register extract

Additionally for a GmbH or UG in formation

  • the notarially executed formation documents, in particular the articles of association or model protocol, in the form required by the service portal
  • the designated declarations of consent by the shareholders to taking up the trade before entry in the commercial register
Anyone who compiles the documents in advance reduces the risk of queries and requests for additional documents.

Details in the form: which details are particularly important

Some details in the form are also relevant for later forwarding to the tax office, the competent chamber and other bodies. Pay particular attention to these points:

  • Description of the activity: specific and factual. “Consulting” can mean everything or nothing; “online trade” without product groups raises queries with some bodies. A clear description also helps you later when the tax office or the chamber refers back to the details.
  • Establishment and address: enter the actual location of the registered business. This address may differ from the business address entered in the commercial register. If, however, the registered business address itself has changed, a filing with the commercial register may additionally be required.
  • Authority to represent: state the management correctly and consistently with the commercial register. With several managing directors, a supplementary sheet may be required under the Berlin procedure.
  • Company name and legal form: exactly as in the commercial register, for the UG therefore in full “UG (haftungsbeschränkt)”.

If the company name, register number or details of the legal representatives do not match the register data, queries can arise. Therefore, briefly compare the details before submitting the registration.

Description of the activity and company purpose

The description of the activity in the trade registration does not have to be identical in wording to the company purpose in the articles of association. However, the activity actually planned should be covered by the company purpose. If that is not the case, an amendment of the articles of association may become necessary. Whether an amendment is necessary depends on the specific wording and the planned activity. An amendment of the articles of association generally requires a notarised shareholder resolution and takes effect upon entry in the commercial register. This must be distinguished from a mere change to the trade form.
Modern conference room with a long table, symbolising trade registration

Costs and fees in Berlin

According to the Berlin service portal, electronic trade registration currently costs EUR 15. For a legal entity with one legal representative, EUR 31 is charged for non-electronic registration. EUR 13 is added for each further legal representative. The amounts should be checked again in the Berlin service portal before registering. As of 2 July 2026.
Additional costs can arise independently of trade registration if special permits, proof or translations are needed for the activity.
Person in a suit walking down a bright modern corridor, symbolising trade registration

What happens after trade registration

The trade authority forwards the trade registration to various bodies, including, depending on the case, the tax office, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Chamber of Skilled Crafts and the employers’ liability insurance association. Independently of this, the company must arrange its tax registration itself via ELSTER.

Especially after entry in the commercial register, several organisational and administrative tasks may be pending in parallel. A short checklist with responsibilities and deadlines helps not to overlook tax registration, possible permits and further notifications. How tax registration works in detail is explained in the article on registering with the tax office after formation. Which notification to the transparency register is pending is shown in the article on the transparency register after formation. And if the business account is still missing, the article on opening an account for a UG or GmbH helps.

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More from the series: after formation

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Registering with the tax office after formation: tax registration, tax number and next steps (GmbH/UG)
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Transparency register after formation: reporting beneficial owners (GmbH/UG)
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Opening a business bank account for UG and GmbH: process, documents, costs (incl. in formation)
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Paying in share capital for UG and GmbH: process, proof, typical mistakes (Berlin)
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Liability after formation: who is really liable in a UG or GmbH (Berlin)

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Frequently asked questions about trade registration after formation

In Berlin, trade registration is generally also possible during the formation phase. Instead of a commercial register extract, the notarially executed formation documents are then required, in particular the articles of association or model protocol in the form required by the service portal, as well as the shareholders’ declarations of consent to taking up the trade before entry in the commercial register.

Trade registration concerns the company. The registration is made by its managing directors as legal representatives. Shareholders who are not also managing directors do not have to submit their own trade registration for the GmbH or UG.

As things stand, yes. For possible technical changes to requirements and payment methods, it is worth checking the Berlin service portal before registering.

For tax registration, a GmbH or UG must submit the relevant questionnaire for corporations electronically via ELSTER. This must generally be done within one month of the start of business. After examination, the tax office issues the tax number. Trade registration does not replace this questionnaire.

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Notarial support with trade registration and the steps after formation

Trade registration is one of several administrative steps after entry in the commercial register. Anyone who clarifies responsibility, documents and the description of the activity in advance avoids queries and can start operating without delay.

We support you in structuring the steps after formation, from the register documents to the notifications that follow, so that responsibilities and deadlines remain clear.

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