Licenses and permits to open a retail store in Hamburg
A store's filings are mostly registration and tax, plus the sign and occupancy for the space. Here are the 4 filings, in the order they're made.
Commercial register entry (GmbH)
Local court (Registergericht), through a notaryGermany, national
The articles are notarized and the notary files the registration electronically.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed in person
Transparency register (beneficial owners)
Bundesanzeiger Verlag, Transparency RegisterGermany, national
Companies record their beneficial owners online.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Trade registration
Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, BezirksamtHamburg
Every shop, restaurant and trading business registers its trade with Hamburg before starting. The city passes it on to the tax office and the food inspectors.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Tax registration questionnaire
Finanzamt (through ELSTER)Germany, national
Filed online through ELSTER within a month of starting; the tax office then issues the tax number and VAT ID.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
More on opening in Hamburg
Other businesses in Hamburg
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
Was this page helpful?
Get the plan for your retail store in Hamburg
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders