What is the Handelsregister and which businesses must join it?
The Handelsregister is Germany's public commercial register, recording companies such as GmbH, UG and AG along with registered merchants above a certain size. Entry is made through a notary and confirmed by the local register court.
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How it works
The register records the company name, legal form, registered office, share capital where relevant and the people authorised to represent the company. Changes such as a new managing director or a change of address must be filed and updated in the register.
Commonly mixed up with
Gewerbeanmeldung and Handelsregister entry are sometimes treated as the same step. Trade registration applies to almost any trading activity, while Handelsregister entry is required specifically for companies and larger registered merchants.
What is the Handelsregister and which businesses must join it?
| Knowledge, Berlin | Business and finance |
|---|---|
| Short answer | The Handelsregister is Germany's public commercial register, recording companies such as GmbH, UG and AG along with registered merchants above a certain size. Entry is made through a notary and confirmed by the local register court. |
| How it works | The register records the company name, legal form, registered office, share capital where relevant and the people authorised to represent the company. Changes such as a new managing director or a change of address must be filed and updated in the register. |
| Commonly mixed up with | Gewerbeanmeldung and Handelsregister entry are sometimes treated as the same step. Trade registration applies to almost any trading activity, while Handelsregister entry is required specifically for companies and larger registered merchants. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Is entry public?
- Yes, Handelsregister entries are publicly searchable.
- Who files the entry?
- A notary submits the filing to the register court.
- Do sole traders need to register?
- Only above a certain size threshold, smaller sole traders are not required to.
- Must changes be updated?
- Yes, changes to directors or registered details must be filed.
- Where is guidance published?
- IHK Berlin publishes guidance on commercial register requirements.
Sources
More in this track
- What is the difference between a GmbH and a UG in Germany?
- What is Gewerbeanmeldung and who needs it?
- What is the difference between a German tax ID and a VAT number?
- How does corporate tax work for a company in Germany?
- What social contributions apply when hiring an employee in Germany?
- What is the difference between a Freiberufler and a Gewerbe in Germany?
- What is needed to open a German business bank account?
- What decides office and coworking costs in Berlin?
- What must a valid business invoice in Germany contain?
These pages explain how the rules work and link the authority that owns them. They are not legal, tax or immigration advice, and amounts and thresholds change, so open the source before you act.
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