Trade register - apply for information

Public and private institutions as well as private individuals can obtain information from the trade register.

Tradespeople must report certain processes to the municipality. These include the registration, re-registration and de-registration

  • of a business,
  • a branch office or
  • a branch office.

The Register of these notifications in a municipality is the trade register.

Note: The information provides data on business registration or re-registration. They are not checked for accuracy or completeness by the responsible office.

This does not apply to information on deregistered businesses.

Prerequisite

You will receive information on the trader's basic data without any special justification. This includes

  • the name,
  • the name of the business (business name),
  • the business address and
  • the reported activity.

If you wish to receive further data, you must demonstrate a legal interest.

You have a legal interest, for example, if you

  • Wish to assert legal claims or
  • refer to services provided by the business operator orservices provided or
  • Grant loans to the traders.

Please note: The trade register is not a public register such as the commercial register, register of co-operatives or register of associations. You therefore have no legal right to be informed of the data. It is at the discretion of the competent authority whether to provide you with the information.

Responsible department

the municipal/city administration in which the commercial enterprise has its registered office

Procedure

You can request information from the trade register informally from the responsible office. In addition to your personal details, you should provide the data you know about the business you are looking for, e.:

  • Name of the business
  • Name of the trader
  • the last known address

Tip: Depending on the services offered by the municipality, the business register and application forms are also available on the Internet.

Deadlines

none

Required documents

for information that goes beyond the basic data: Proof of legal interest such as

  • Debt instruments,
  • Copies of contracts or
  • Invoices

Costs

Fees are calculated according to the municipal fee scale. Please request further information from the competent authority.

Miscellaneous

none

Appeal

You can find information on the legal remedy in the decision of the authority.

Legal basis

Gewerbeordnung (GewO):

  • § 14 Anzeigepflicht

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 06.03.2025