Businesses Subject to Permission

When you purchase one of our readymades, 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 a certain authority. Sound confusing, let's unravel the mystery of starting a business.

What are the general rules? The general rule is that you are free to run any business you wish; i.e. without permission. All corporations must register their business at the trade office (Gewerbeamt). Applying for a permission requires that you have previously registered your business at the trade office in their municipality. The list below will show common examples where a license is necessary – next to registration at the trade office.

Accounting Firms
Alternative Practioners
Arms, Weapons

All these mentioned lines of business require a license:

Production and Trade
Running Shooting Ranges
Production and Trade of Military Weapons

Auctions
Aviation
Banks
Bars, Pubs when serving alcoholic beverages
Broker for Real Estate and Capital Investment Products
Casinos
Collection Agencies
Commodity Futures
Crafts
Disposal Sites
Distance or Remote Education
Driving School
Emigration Consultation
Employee Leasing
Explosives: Handling, Vending, and Transportation
Exposition / Ostentation of Persons
Facility with Harmful Effects to the Environment for opening and running
Ferry Operation
Financial Services
Gambling Halls, Penny / Amusement Arcades
Gaming Devices and Games with the Possibility to Win
Gas / Petrol Stations
Genetic Engineering Facitlities
Hospitals, Private General and Maternity
Insurance Brokering
Insurance Companiesa
an insurance company is not permissible in the form of a GmbH
Investment Companies
Legal Consultation; Conducting Legal Business of Third Parties
Loan Brokering
Lodging Establishments
Lotteries
Mining, Detecting Natural Resources
Nuclear Plants, Storage of Nuclear Fuel
Old People's Home
Participation in Companies
Passenger Transportation (Taxis, Busses, e.g.)
Pawn Shops
Piercing Studio
Postal Services (letter forwarding)
Pharmacies
Pharmaceuticals
Poisons, Trading with Poison
Rail Companies (Infrastructure / Operation)
Real Estate Development
Recruitment / Employee Assignment
Realtors, Real Estate Brokers
Road Haulage
Security Industry
Tax Consulting Companies
Telecommunications
Towing Services (for vehicles not needing repairs)
Travel Business
Traveling Performers / Carnies / Showmen
Vivisections
Waste Disposal Plant
Waste Transport and Collection

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 simultaneously with 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.