Gewerbeordnung

The Gewerbeordnung (GewO) is the central federal statute governing commercial business activity in Germany. It sets the framework for establishing, operating, and supervising businesses, outlining registration, licensing, and compliance requirements. It applies broadly to commercial activities, with certain sectors regulated by separate laws.

One of its core provisions is the obligation to register a business with the local trade office (Gewerbeamt) before starting operation. The registration, known as Gewerbeanmeldung, creates a record of the business with the municipality and may trigger additional registrations for taxes and social security. Businesses must update or cancel registration when activity changes or ends.

The GewO provides rules on which activities require permits or notifications. Some trades are subject to licensing or specific conditions (erlaubnis- oder anzeigepflichtige Gewerbe). The regulation also outlines rules for advertising, business names, and competition to prevent unfair practices.

The GewO interacts with sector-specific regulation. For crafts and trades, the Handwerksordnung (HwO) governs qualification requirements and licensing for certain crafts (Meisterpflicht). The GewO thus serves as general framework complementing specialized laws.

Enforcement and oversight are conducted by municipal and state authorities. The law allows measures such as prohibiting or suspending a business for violations, and it provides sanctions for breaches of registration, licensing, or advertising rules. The GewO is amended periodically; it remains a foundational element of the German regulatory landscape for commerce.