Business re-registration
If you move with your business, a branch or a branch of your business **within the urban area in which you registered your business, you must re-register the business. A re-registration is also necessary if your range of goods or services changes. A business re-registration is also required when changing your business from a partnership to a sole proprietorship.
A business re-registration may also be necessary if your name is changed, e.g. by marriage. Depending on whether your company is an unregistered sole proprietorship (you in person), a partnership or a legal entity, you will need to re-register your business or perform a data update. As a sole proprietorship or partner in a partnership (e.g. GbR, OHG, ...), a business re-registration pursuant to Section 14(1)(2a) GewO is necessary. As a legal representative (e.g. managing director, ...) of a legal entity (e.g. GmbH, AG, ...), a [data update] (/application/business notification performance selection/) is sufficient.
If the company name changes, a business re-registration is also necessary, provided that it is registered in the commercial register. If your company is, for example, an unregistered sole proprietorship, a business re-registration is not necessary. In this case, a [data update] (/application/business reporting performance selection/) is sufficient.
If you want to transfer the place of business of your business to another municipality or city, you must register your [business first in the city] (/company management/company termination/business-deregistration-online/) in which you have registered it. Then [register it in the new city](/application/business registration performance selection/).
According to §14 of the Gewerbeordnung (GewO), all traders are subject to the notification obligation. Therefore, business re-registrations are mandatory. You can register your business online via the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRW**.
The re-registration will be forwarded to your responsible regulatory or trade office. Every business re-registration involves, among other things, a notification to the competent tax office, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce or the Chamber of Crafts and the Professional Association.
What documents are required for a business re-registration?
You can re-register your business online or view the re-registration at your local regulatory or trade office. You will need the following documents:
- Form for business re-registration
- Identity document of the applicant (ID card or passport)
- Residence permits, if applicable, with the indication ‘Employment permitted’ if the applicant does not come from a state of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
- If applicable, current confirmation of registration, provided that no private address is noted in the identity document
- Entry at the Chamber of Crafts, if applicable: In the case of artisanal or craft-like activities, registration in the trade role of the Chamber of Crafts is required for the exercise of a trade
- Where applicable, in the case of trade subject to authorisation: Copy of the corresponding permit or concession
- if applicable, current extract from the commercial register (if already entered in the commercial register)
- Copy, if applicable, of the notarial notarisation of the articles of association/incorporation agreement
Business re-registration: costs
The costs for a trade re-registration are the same as for a [trade registration] (https://service.wirtschaft.nrw/company formation/gewerbe-anmelden-online/).
⁇ Category ⁇ Fee (Euro)* ⁇
|---|---|
⁇ For natural persons and authorized partners of partnerships that are not legal persons ⁇ 26,00 € ⁇
⁇ For legal persons, even if they are authorized partners of partnerships ⁇ 33,00 € ⁇
⁇ For each additional legal representative in the case of natural persons ⁇ 13,00 € ⁇
⁇ For each additional legal representative in legal entities ⁇ 13,00 € ⁇
*according to subheading 10 of the General Administrative Fees Code for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (General Administrative Fees Code NRW – AVwGebO NRW)
Obtaining further documents (e.g. a certificate of good conduct) may incur additional costs.
FAQs: Business re-registration
Help and frequently asked questions about business re-registration
Do I have to re-register my business when moving to another city?
No, if your permanent establishment moves from one city to another, you will need to deregister your business at the old location and then re-register it at the new location. You can easily process both the [trade registration](https://service.wirtschaft.nrw/application/trade registration performance selection/) and the [trade registration](https://service.wirtschaft.nrw/application/trade registration performance selection/) online via the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRW.
Where do you re-register a business?
If you want to re-register a business online, you can submit a business re-registration at any time via the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRW. [You can access the online application for business re-registration here.](https://service.wirtschaft.nrw/application/business re-registration service selection/) Alternatively, you can view the business re-registration at your local business registration office.
What happens if you don't re-register the business?
According to the Trade Regulations, all trade declarations must be made immediately. This also includes timely business re-registration.
If you do not or only retroactively re-register your trade, this constitutes an administrative offence and can be punished by the competent trade registration office with a fine.
Can I re-register my business and transfer it to my spouse?
It is not possible to transfer the trade to the spouse by means of a trade re-registration. If someone other than yourself takes over your business, you must first unsubscribe from your business. In the next step, the business can then be re-registered.
Further information on starting a business and a consultation option can be found [here at your Startercenter NRW] (https://www.startercenter.nrw/).
How is the trade re-registration carried out with a GbR?
In the case of a partnership (e.g. a GbR), all personally liable shareholders with the right to represent and, in the case of a capital company, the managing directors with the right to represent (GmbH) or the board of directors (AG) must carry out the business re-registration.
Is a change in the legal form of my company sufficient for a business re-registration?
A trade re-registration is not enough. If the legal form of your company changes, you must cancel the business and re-register, stating the new legal form.
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