Handelsregisters

Handelsregisters are official public registers that document essential information about commercial enterprises and legal entities. They exist in several countries with strong commercial-law traditions, notably Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and are typically maintained by state or cantonal authorities. The primary purposes are to provide legal certainty, protect creditors, and facilitate commerce by offering reliable information about who can act on behalf of a company and what kind of entity exists.

Typical entries include the firm’s registered name and legal form, registered office, object of the business, and the share capital or equivalent. They record the identity of authorized representatives (such as managing directors or general partners), the company’s registration number, and the date of entry. The registers also document changes, such as amendments to the object, changes in management, capital alterations, mergers, splits, or dissolution.

Registration is usually mandatory for certain business forms and often required for the validity of some legal acts or representations. The registers are public records; most jurisdictions provide online access or official gazettes to publish notices of changes. Data in the Handelsregisters is used by customers, suppliers, banks, and regulators to verify a company’s status and authority to act.

While the core function is common, the precise rules, naming, and procedures differ by country. Germany uses the Handelsregister administered by local courts, Austria uses the Firmenbuch for commercial entities, and Switzerland maintains cantonal Handelsregister offices. Together, these registers form a network intended to promote transparency and legal certainty in commercial activity.