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Close: Closing down a company in Berlin (e.g. business deregistration)

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Shutting down a company in Berlin

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Are you giving up your business or leaving Berlin as a location? Simply deregister your business online, delete your entry from directories or registers or terminate your membership.

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about closing a business or trade

  • When do I have to deregister a business?

    You are obliged to deregister your business if you:

    • fully discontinue operation of the business in Berlin or
    • relocate the business to another location outside Berlin, or
    • change the legal form of your company. In this case, the trade is deregistered under the old legal form and then registered under the new one.
  • How can I deregister a business in Berlin?

    You can deregister your business online via our portal.

  • How much does it cost to deregister a business?

    Business deregistration is always free of charge.

  • I am requested to state the date on which my commercial activity ended or will end, respectively. Is it possible to deregister with retroactive effect?

    Yes. Please always state the date when you actually ceased business operations. If the date was a long time ago, you must report this, truthfully stating the date when the business ceased. This may be a number of years ago. The online procedure allows you to submit your deregistration retroactively up to 60 months later.

    Please note: Failure to deregister your business when you cease business operations (usually no later than approx. 4 weeks after closing shop) is an offence and can be punished by the respective Public Order Office with a fine of up to EUR 1,000.

  • One of the owners of our civil-law partnership (GbR) would like to resign. How do I deregister this owner from the partnership?

    Start the “Business deregistration” process in our online portal.

    Submit the business deregistration as a sole proprietorship stating in the form or by e-mail that the partnership (GbR) will continue to exist or that the partnership will continue as a sole proprietorship (with only one remaining owner). The shareholders who will continue to operate the business do not have to submit any notification.

Services for closing a business in Berlin

Further information for entrepreneurs

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