Deregister trade

If you stop operating your business, you must deregister your business.

If you change the legal form of your business, you will also need to deregister your business. 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 head office of your business or a branch office or dependent branch of your business to a new location without changing the jurisdiction within the municipality, a business re-registration is sufficient.

The deregistration must be carried out by the following persons or their authorized representatives:

• for sole traders: by the trader himself or herself
• for legal entities: by the legal representatives; this applies, for example, to limited liability companies (GmbH) and public limited companies (AG)
• in the case of partnerships: from all partners authorized to manage the company: this applies, for example, to general partnerships (OHG), partnerships limited by shares (KG), partnerships under civil law (GbR), limited liability companies (GmbH & Co. KG)

If you relocate your business:

• If you move your place of business to another municipality, you must register your business at the new location. Your old location will be automatically deregistered.
• If you change your place of business within a municipality, a change of business registration is sufficient.