Registering a Gewerbe (trade) as a creator — when, where, and what it costs
As soon as you create content regularly and with the intention of earning, you are running a trade — often earlier than you would think. The good news: registering is a 15-minute appointment, not a bureaucratic marathon.
From when do I count as a trade?
The rule of thumb from §14 GewO: anyone who works independently, on a lasting basis, and with the intent to make a profit is running a Gewerbe (a registered trade). For creators, that means: it is not the first euro that counts, but the intention behind it. If you send out media kits, quote collaboration rates, or place an affiliate link, you are documenting exactly that intention.
A one-off gift with nothing expected in return does not make you a trade. A "product for a story" deal, on the other hand, quite possibly does — for tax purposes it is revenue (more on that in the barter guide). And importantly: the registration is a notification, not a permit — you are not asking for permission, you are informing the authorities. Registering late can cost a fine; in practice, the offices usually react leniently to latecomers, but you should not count on it.
This guide explains the legal situation in general terms and to the best of our knowledge. What applies in your specific case is for a tax advisor, a lawyer, or the competent authority to determine — and we tell you in the app when that moment has probably come.
Registration in 15 minutes
In most municipalities, Gewerbe registration now works online. You need your ID, a description of your activity, and — depending on the municipality — a fee of 15 to 65 euros.
- Open your city's online portal (or book an appointment at the Gewerbeamt (trade office))
- Describe your activity — broadly enough to cover new formats: "creation and marketing of digital content on social media"
- Pay the fee, wait for your trade certificate (often issued instantly as a PDF)
- Within one month: complete the tax registration questionnaire in the ELSTER portal (Germany's online tax portal) (§138 AO) — this is also where you make your §19 decision
What comes next
With the trade certificate you are official — and a few obligations become real: the Einnahmen-Überschuss-Rechnung (cash-basis profit statement), the VAT decision, and the IHK (chamber of commerce), which will get in touch on its own (for small trades below €5,200 in trade income usually free of charge, tiered above that). These ongoing obligations are exactly what StackManagement takes over: your books write themselves as you go, the §19 tracker warns you before the threshold, and your tax reserve is calculated automatically.
Let us handle the obligations.
Bookkeeping, the §19 tracker, and trade reminders — automatic.