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Start a Business / Register a Trade in Bonn

Step by step into self-employment – from business registration to your first invoice.

Progress0 of 8 steps completed
8 Schritte · ca. 6 Minuten0%

✓ Du bist in 6 Minuten fertig

Step 1

Trade or Freelancer?

Before you start: Are you a tradesperson or freelancer? This determines what you need to register and which taxes you pay.

⚠️Wrong classification can cause problems with the tax office – consult a tax advisor or chamber of commerce if in doubt.
💡 Tips
  • ✅ Freelancers (no trade registration needed): doctors, lawyers, architects, journalists, programmers, copywriters, designers, tax advisors
  • 🏪 Tradespeople (registration required): retailers, craftspeople, restaurant owners, e-commerce, brokers, some consultants
  • ❓ Unsure? Ask the tax office first – they ultimately decide
  • 💡 Freelancers don't pay trade tax and have no commercial register obligation
  • 💡 As freelancer: register directly with tax office (step 3), no trade office needed
Chamber of Commerce startup advice↗
Step 2Only for tradespeople – freelancers skip this step

Register your trade at the trade office

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Frist: BEFORE starting the activity · Those who don't register their trade risk a fine of up to €1,000. As soon as money is earned, the trade must be registered.

The trade must be registered BEFORE starting the activity. This takes 10–20 minutes at the trade office. Costs only €20–40 and is the first official step into self-employment!

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • 📝 Many cities offer online registration – saves time!
  • 🏢 Alternative: appear directly at the trade office (often no appointment needed)
  • 📬 After registration: tax office automatically contacts you with questionnaire
  • 🔑 With trade certificate you can open a business account
  • 💡 Side business: registration same as main business – inform your employer though
Register trade in Bonn↗
Step 3

🏦 Geschäftskonto eröffnen

Trenne privat und geschäftlich von Anfang an. Ein Geschäftskonto ist Pflicht für professionelles Auftreten und vereinfacht die Buchhaltung enorm.

⏰ Direkt nach der Gewerbeanmeldung💰 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos)
📅

Save this deadline to your calendar so you don't forget.

Works with iPhone, Google Calendar, Outlook and many others.

💡 Tips
  • ⏱ Online in 10 Minuten
  • 💰 Viele Konten kostenlos oder günstig
  • 📊 Buchhaltung und Steuer einfacher
👉 Geschäftskonto vergleichen ↗👉 Buchhaltung-Tool testen ↗
⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich
Step 4

Register with the tax office

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Frist: Within 4 weeks of founding · Without tax registration you cannot issue invoices or apply for a VAT ID.

After trade registration the tax office automatically sends a 'tax registration questionnaire'. You must complete this. As a freelancer you do this directly – without prior trade registration.

💡 Tips
  • 💻 Online via ELSTER (elster.de) – quick and free
  • 📮 Or by post / in person at the competent tax office
  • 💡 Small business regulation (§ 19 UStG): Up to €25,000 revenue in first year no VAT – recommended for starters!
  • 🔢 After registration you receive your tax number – it goes on every invoice
  • 📋 Questionnaire asks about: revenue estimate, activity description, bank details, small business yes/no
Tax registration form via ELSTER↗
Step 5

Open a business account

Separate private and business money from the start. A separate business account saves you enormous time for taxes and accounting – and it looks more professional to clients.

⚠️Mixing private and business money creates enormous extra work at tax time – and risks errors.
💡 Tips
  • 💡 Free business accounts: Qonto, Kontist, FYRST, N26 Business, Holvi
  • 🏦 Traditional banks: Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank – often with branch
  • 📊 Some providers have direct accounting integration (saves even more time)
  • ⚡ Online opening often possible in 10 minutes – no appointment needed
  • 📋 You need: trade certificate, ID, tax number
Compare & open business account↗
Step 6

Set up accounting

Document all income and expenses from the start. This sounds laborious, but with the right tools it takes just minutes per week. Clean accounting = less stress at tax time.

⚠️Those who don't collect receipts cannot deduct expenses from taxes – that costs real money!
💡 Tips
  • 📱 Simple tools: Lexoffice, Sevdesk, Kontist, FastBill (many free starter versions)
  • 📂 Minimum: Excel/Google Sheets with date, amount, category
  • 🗂️ Keep receipts: 10 year retention requirement for business documents
  • 💡 Small business: simple income-surplus calculation – no double-entry bookkeeping needed
  • 📸 Tip: receipt scanner app on phone – scan right after purchase
Lexoffice – accounting for self-employed↗
Step 7

Check insurance

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Health insurance is MANDATORY in Germany – even for the self-employed!

As self-employed you are no longer covered by your employer. Check which insurance you need – some are mandatory, others highly recommended.

💡 Tips
  • 🏥 Health insurance (MANDATORY): Voluntary statutory (from approx. €200/month) or private
  • 🛡️ Professional liability (highly recommended): Protects against damages from your work – especially important for consultants, IT, craftspeople
  • 💼 Business liability: For damage at your business (customers tripping etc.)
  • 🔒 Disability insurance (sensible): What happens if you can no longer work?
  • 💡 As transition: staying voluntarily in statutory health insurance is often cheaper than private
Compare health insurance↗Compare professional liability ↗
Step 8

Write your first invoice

Your first invoice – congratulations! Every invoice must contain certain mandatory information, otherwise the client cannot deduct it as business expense (which makes them unhappy).

⚠️An incorrect or incomplete invoice can lead to tax back payments. Better to check once more!
💡 Tips
  • 📋 Mandatory fields on every invoice: Full name & address (you + client), tax number or VAT ID, invoice date, invoice number (sequential!), service description + period, net amount, tax rate (or 'no VAT per §19 UStG'), gross amount, bank details
  • 💡 Small business: Write on your invoice: 'According to § 19 UStG no VAT is charged.'
  • 🔢 Invoice number must be unique and sequential (e.g. 2026-001, 2026-002...)
  • ⏰ Clearly state payment term: e.g. 'Payable within 14 days'
  • 📱 Tools: Lexoffice, Sevdesk, Fastbill, or simple Word template
Create invoice for free (Lexoffice)↗

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have time?
Siehe Details in den einzelnen Schritten
What does it cost?
20 – 40 €, 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos)
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Falsche Einordnung kann Probleme mit dem Finanzamt verursachen – im Zweifel Steuerberater oder IHK fragen.

🔗 Related Topics

MovingBonnEducation & StudiesBonn