Deregister business

If you wish to cease operating your business, you are obliged to deregister your business.

The same applies if you relocate the headquarters of your business or a branch office or a dependent branch of your company to a new location and this results in the jurisdiction of a different municipality. First deregister your trade or business at the previous location. Then register it again at the new location.

If you change the legal form of your business, a business deregistration is also required. You must first deregister your business under the previous legal form. You then re-register your business under the new legal form.

If you move the headquarters of your company or a branch office or a dependent branch of your company to a new location without changing the jurisdiction within the municipality, a business re-registration is sufficient.

The following persons or their authorized representatives must deregister:

• in the case of sole traders, by the trader himself,
• in the case of corporations (e.g. GmbH, AG), by the legal representative(s).

In the case of partnerships (e.g. OHG, KG, GbR/BGB-Gesellschaft, GmbH & Co. KG), all partners authorized to manage the business must register the business

• § 14 Trade Regulations (GewO)
• § Section 2 (1) Trade Notification Ordinance (GewAnzV)

• The fully completed and signed business deregistration form - GewA 3
• Copy of identity card or passport with registration certificate, or presentation on site. In the case of electronic business re-registration, depending on the municipality, other suitable and appropriate procedures for establishing identity (e.g. PIN/TAN procedure, the electronic ID function, De-Mail or a self-declaration of identity).
• Copy of the extract from the commercial register if your company is entered in the commercial register (also: register of cooperatives, register of associations)

• liquidation or
• Relocation of your registered office or the registered office of a branch or dependent branch office outside the previous municipality or
• Changing the legal form of your business

You can deregister your business in writing or electronically.

You will receive a certificate from the authorities confirming receipt of your business deregistration.

The office responsible for deregistration forwards the business deregistration to other offices, such as the tax office, the employers' liability insurance association, the Chamber of Crafts or the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and, if applicable, the registry court.

• You can deregister your business in person or electronically.
• If you are deregistering in person, you must complete and personally sign the business deregistration form - GewA 3.
• The electronic procedure collects the same data as the personal deregistration. However, it is possible to deviate from the form and there is no signature requirement.
• The body responsible for deregistration may use suitable and appropriate procedures to establish your identity (e.g. PIN/TAN procedure, the electronic ID function, De-Mail or a self-declaration of identity) in the case of electronic deregistration using the online procedure.

If it is clear that the business has been discontinued and you do not deregister your business, deregistration is carried out ex officio.

• Business deregistration - Notes.pdf

Business deregistration is free of charge.

• Supplement to the business registration
• Business deregistration