Start your business.
From trade licence to your first booking on FreyOne.
Register your business step by step.
Pick your country once. The guide and legal forms on this page adapt.
Are you a trader or a freelancer?
Liberal professions under § 18 EStG include teachers, artists, translators and healthcare professions. Almost every other service (personal training, beauty or crafts, for example) is a trade (Gewerbe).
Have you registered your trade?
Traders register with their town's trade office (Gewerbeamt), often online, usually for €20–65. Freelancers don't register a trade. Telling the tax office is enough.
Do you have a tax number?
Within a month of starting, you submit the “Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung” via ELSTER and receive your tax number. There you also state whether you use the small business scheme.
Do you need a licence for your work?
For most services, no. Exceptions include licensed crafts such as hairdressing (entry in the Handwerksrolle) or healthcare professions such as Heilpraktiker.
Do you have your proof for FreyOne?
During onboarding you upload your trade registration, your commercial register extract or, as a freelancer, the tax office's confirmation. Then FreyOne reviews your business and Stripe your identity.
Your checklist
- Trade or liberal profession clarified
- Trade registered with the Gewerbeamt (freelancers: not needed)
- Tax registration form submitted, tax number received
- Small business scheme or standard VAT chosen
- Licence checked (e.g. Handwerksrolle, Heilpraktiker)
- Proof uploaded to FreyOne
Do you need a trade licence?
Most services are a trade: free, or regulated with proof of qualification (like hairdressing, beauty or massage). If you work e.g. as a lecturer or artist, you count as new self-employed (Neue Selbständige) and need no trade licence.
Have you registered your trade?
With the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or the Magistrat, online via the business service portal (usp.gv.at). Registration is free of charge. You receive a GISA extract as confirmation.
Are you insured with the SVS?
When you register a trade, the trade authority registers you with the social insurance for the self-employed (SVS) automatically. New self-employed people register there themselves.
Do you have a tax number?
Within a month you report your start to the tax office: as a sole trader with form Verf24 via FinanzOnline or the USP. You then receive your tax number.
Do you have your proof for FreyOne?
During onboarding you upload your GISA extract or other proof of your activity. Then FreyOne reviews your business and Stripe your identity.
Your checklist
- Free or regulated trade, or new self-employed status clarified
- Trade registered, GISA extract received
- SVS registration checked
- Tax office: Verf24 submitted, tax number received
- Small business scheme or standard VAT chosen
- Proof uploaded to FreyOne
Show the legal forms in Germany
| Legal form | Description | Commercial register |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor / freelancerEinzelunternehmen / Freiberufler | Simplest business form. No minimum capital. Full liability with private assets. Suited to solo self-employed people.Freelancers (doctors, lawyers, artists, IT) are usually not required to register a trade. | Optional |
| GbRGesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts (civil-law partnership) | Simplest form for two or more people. No minimum capital. All partners are jointly and severally liable. | Optional |
| UG (haftungsbeschränkt)Unternehmergesellschaft (limited liability) | Mini GmbH from €1 share capital. Limited liability. 25% of annual profit must be put into reserves. | Required |
| GmbHGesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (limited company) | Minimum capital €25,000. Liability limited to company assets. The most common corporation in Germany. | Required |
| OHGOffene Handelsgesellschaft (general partnership) | Partnership with a commercial register entry. All partners have unlimited liability. Suited to trading companies. | Required |
| KGKommanditgesellschaft (limited partnership) | The general partner has unlimited liability, the limited partner only up to their contribution. Flexible for investors. | Required |
| AGAktiengesellschaft (stock corporation) | Minimum capital €50,000. Limited liability. Suited to listed or fast-growing companies. | Required |
Small business scheme (§ 19 UStG)
If your turnover was at most €25,000 in the previous year and stays at most €100,000 in the current year, you don't charge VAT.
- No VAT on invoices
- No input tax deduction
- Simpler tax return
- You can opt out, but that binds you for 5 years
Show the legal forms in Austria
| Legal form | Description | Commercial register |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor / liberal professionEinzelunternehmen / Freiberufler | Simplest business form. Full liability. For solo self-employed people and regulated professions.Trade registration with the trade authority, liberal professions via their chambers. | Optional |
| GmbHGesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (limited company) | Minimum capital €35,000 (half paid in at formation). Limited liability. The most common corporation. | Required |
| OGOffene Gesellschaft (general partnership) | Partnership without minimum capital. Unlimited liability of all partners. | Required |
| KGKommanditgesellschaft (limited partnership) | The general partner has unlimited liability, the limited partner up to their contribution. Entry in the company register required. | Required |
| AGAktiengesellschaft (stock corporation) | Minimum capital €70,000. Suited to large companies and investors. | Required |
Small business scheme (§ 6 (1) no. 27 UStG)
Up to €55,000 annual turnover (gross, in the previous and the current year) you are exempt from VAT. If you exceed the limit by no more than 10 %, the exemption still applies until the end of the year.
- No VAT on invoices
- No input tax deduction
- You can opt out, but that binds you for 5 years
- Income tax: flat-rate scheme for small businesses with flat business expenses (20 % of income for services)
This overview is only a general guide and does not replace tax or legal advice. For your individual situation, please consult a tax adviser or lawyer.
After registering.
- Step 1
Start onboarding.
Under “Become a provider”: business details, contact, address, legal info, documents.
- Step 2
Wait for the review.
FreyOne reviews your business, Stripe your identity. You can see the status at any time.
- Step 3
Go live.
Your profile with link and QR code. Customers book as soon as everything is approved.
Ready for your first customers?
From account to bookable profile in four steps.
- Create an accountRegister for free with email and password.
- OnboardingBusiness details, contact, address, legal info, documents.
- ReviewFreyOne reviews your business, Stripe your identity for payments and payouts.
- Go liveAdd services, share your profile, accept bookings.
