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 walks you through the federal GewA 1 form, fills in every field correctly, and tells you which Gewerbeamt is responsible for you.
The GewA 1 form without bureaucratic German
Norman asks plain questions about your business and translates the answers into the official form. You get a completed GewA 1 as a PDF that you submit to your local Gewerbeamt.
For sole proprietors, UG, and GmbH
Trade registration is not only for solo founders. A UG or GmbH must also register its trade once it is entered in the commercial register. Norman knows both paths and only asks what your legal form needs.
Describe your activity correctly
The activity description decides whether you later need to re-register and whether a permit applies. Norman proposes durable wording and flags trades that require official authorization.
Fees, deadlines, and the right office
You see upfront what your Gewerbeamt charges, which documents to bring, and whether online submission is available. No surprises at the counter.
Registration is not the last step
Right after the Gewerbeamt, the Finanzamt, IHK, and accident insurer get in touch. Norman then guides you through the tax registration questionnaire and takes over invoicing, bookkeeping, and tax filings.
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 for free.
/month (excl. VAT)
- Unlimited e-invoicing
- Tax write-off tips
- Bank sync
- AI Autopilot
- Connect to ChatGPT & Claude
Klein
For Kleinunternehmer.
/month (excl. VAT)
- Annual tax declarations (EÜR)
- Personal income tax
- Declare salary as an employee
- EU revenue reports (ZM)
- Invoicing pro plan
Pro
For self-employed charging VAT.
/month (excl. VAT)
- VAT returns
- All tax declarations
- Tax efficiency score
- Receipt auto-matching
- Invoicing pro plan
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
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. The Finanzamt then asks you to complete the tax registration questionnaire, which is how you get your tax number. Norman guides you through that step next and then takes over invoicing, bookkeeping, and tax filings.
What if I register late?
Registration is due before you start trading. A late notification can be fined up to €1,000. In practice a short delay is usually resolved without drama, but do not wait on purpose: the registration takes effect from the start date you enter.