Register your German trade without form chaos
Norman fills in your GewA 1 form, tells you which Gewerbeamt is responsible, and what it costs. For sole proprietors, UG, and GmbH. Free.
Your German trade registration, ready to file
Norman guides you through the nationwide GewA 1 form, fills in every field correctly, and tells you which Gewerbeamt is responsible.
The GewA 1 form without bureaucratic German
Norman asks plain questions and fills in the official form. You submit the finished PDF to your Gewerbeamt.
For sole proprietors, UG, and GmbH
A UG or GmbH registers its trade after the commercial register entry. Norman only asks what your legal form needs.
Describe your activity correctly
The activity description decides on re-registration and permits. Norman proposes wording that holds up.
Fees, deadlines, and the right office
You see upfront what your Gewerbeamt charges, which documents to bring, and whether you can file online.
Bookkeeping from day one
Receipts, invoices, and bank activity land in your books from day one, up to the VAT return.
What Norman saves you
Trade registration, the tax questionnaire, and your first month of bookkeeping otherwise cost money, time, and nerves.
Startup consulting for forms you can complete yourself in 15 minutes.
Gewerbeamt, Finanzamt, and chamber, when nobody tells you what comes in which order.
The activity description worded too narrowly, sending you back to the office six months later.
At Norman, the essentials are free.
Also, it is tax-deductible.
Free
Core accounting features.
/month (excl. VAT)
/month (excl. VAT)
- Unlimited e-invoicing
- Tax write-off tips
- AI Autopilot
- Connect to ChatGPT & Claude
- Receipt scanning (OCR)
- Norman AI usage limits
Klein
For Kleinunternehmer.
/month (excl. VAT)
/month (excl. VAT), then €12
- Bank sync
- Annual tax declarations (EÜR), yearly billing only
- Personal income tax, yearly billing only
- Declare salary as an employee, yearly billing only
- EU revenue reports (ZM)
- Higher Norman AI limits
Pro
For self-employed charging VAT.
/month (excl. VAT)
/month (excl. VAT), then €28
- VAT returns
- All tax declarations
- Tax efficiency score
- Receipt auto-matching
- Up to 5 bank accounts synced
- Maximum Norman AI limits
The discount applies to new customers for the first 3 months on monthly billing.
Free
Invoicing and bookkeeping.
/month (excl. VAT)
/month (excl. VAT)
- Complete double-entry bookkeeping
- AI Autopilot
- Unlimited e-invoicing
- Bank sync (1 account)
- Norman AI usage limits
Pro
Reports, insights, and advisor tools.
/month (excl. VAT)
/month (excl. VAT), then €12
- BWA & financial reports
- DATEV export
- Tax advisor access
- Multi-user access
- Higher Norman AI limits
Max
Annual accounts and every tax filing.
/month (excl. VAT)
/month (excl. VAT), then €52
- UStVA & ZM filing
- Corporate & trade tax
- Annual accounts with E-Bilanz
- Bank sync (5 accounts)
- Maximum Norman AI limits
The discount applies to new customers for the first 3 months on monthly billing.
Register your trade now
Fill in the form, download the PDF, submit it to your Gewerbeamt. Norman then guides you through the tax registration questionnaire.
Start for freeFAQ
Can I fill in the GewA 1 form online?
Yes. In Norman you fill in the GewA 1 online for free, sign it in the browser, and download it as a PDF. Many cities accept the trade registration through their online portal, others by post or in person. The responsible office is always the Gewerbeamt of the municipality where your business is based.
Where do I get the GewA 1 form?
The GewA 1 is the nationwide template from Annex 1 of the Gewerbeanzeigeverordnung. Your Gewerbeamt provides it as a PDF, and Norman produces it filled in. It must be typed or completed in block letters (§ 1 GewAnzV).
Who has to register a trade in Germany?
Any self-employed, ongoing, profit-oriented activity must be notified under § 14 GewO. Liberal professions under § 18 EStG are exempt, for example doctors, lawyers, designers, or consulting developers: they register directly with the Finanzamt. Capital companies such as a UG or GmbH register their trade once they are entered in the commercial register.
Does Norman submit the trade registration for me?
No. Norman fills in the federal GewA 1 form completely and gives you a PDF, together with your responsible Gewerbeamt, the fee, and the documents you need. You submit it yourself, through your city's online portal, by post, or in person. Germany has no single nationwide electronic filing channel for trade offices.
What does a trade registration cost?
Your municipality sets the fee, and in 2026 it is usually between €15 and €65. Online registration is often cheaper than going to the counter. Filling in the form with Norman is free.
Do a UG and GmbH really need a trade registration?
Yes. Entry in the commercial register does not replace the trade registration. After registration, the company registers its trade with the Gewerbeamt, represented by its managing director. Every additional business location later needs its own registration.
What happens after the trade registration?
The Gewerbeamt notifies the Finanzamt, the chamber of commerce or crafts, and the statutory accident insurer. You submit the tax registration questionnaire within one month of starting (§ 138(4) AO); Norman sends it via ELSTER. The tax number usually arrives after 4 to 8 weeks, and from then on Norman takes over invoicing, bookkeeping, and tax filings.
What if I register late?
The notification is due at the same time as you start (§ 14(1) GewO). Missing, wrong, or late notifications can be fined up to €1,000 (§ 146(2) no. 2 and (3) GewO). In practice a short delay is usually resolved without drama, but do not wait on purpose.