What does HRB mean?
HRB stands for Commercial Register, Section B. This section records incorporated companies with separate legal personality under German law. These include:
- GmbH – private limited liability company
- UG (haftungsbeschränkt) – entrepreneurial company with limited liability, sometimes called a ‘mini-GmbH’
- AG – stock corporation
- KGaA – partnership limited by shares
- SE – Societas Europaea (European public limited company)
- Cooperatives and registered associations conducting business activities
For these companies, liability generally rests with the company and its assets rather than the shareholders personally. Registration in this section is therefore constitutive: the legal entity does not exist without registration in the commercial register.
What does HRA mean? Section A explained
HRA stands for Commercial Register, Section A. This section records partnerships and sole traders that operate a commercially organised business under the German Commercial Code (HGB). These include:
- eK – registered sole trader (e.K. or e.Kfr.)
- OHG – general commercial partnership
- KG – limited partnership
- GmbH & Co. KG – a particular form of limited partnership
- EWIV – European Economic Interest Grouping
Unlike Section B, partners here may, depending on their role, have personal and unlimited liability for the partnership’s obligations. Small businesses and independent professionals are generally not required to register, but may be able to register voluntarily.
HRA and HRB compared
| Feature | HRA (Section A) | HRB (Section B) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered businesses | Partnerships and sole traders | Incorporated companies |
| Typical legal forms | OHG, KG, GmbH & Co. KG, eK | GmbH, UG, AG, KGaA, SE |
| Liability | Personal, and unlimited depending on the partner’s role | Limited to the company’s assets |
| Registration requirement | For commercially organised businesses (§ 1 HGB) | Constitutive – no legal entity without registration |
| Number | HRA + sequential number | HRB + sequential number |
HRB numbers: meaning and structure
A company’s register number in Section B starts with ‘HRB’, followed by a sequential number assigned by the local court. It identifies a company registered in Section B of the commercial register.
For example, ‘HRB 12345 (Amtsgericht München)’ refers to entry 12345 in Section B at Munich Local Court. The register number identifies the company’s registration, including its recorded changes of name, office or shareholders.
Official documents also identify the responsible register court because each court assigns its own numbers. ‘12345’ alone is not unique: the court name is also needed to identify the company.
What information does the commercial register contain?
The commercial register electronically records the following information about registered businesses:
- Company name (official name) and legal form
- Registered office, establishments and branches
- Company objects
- Authorised representatives (managing directors, management board members and holders of Prokura)
- Share capital
- For partnerships: limited partners and other partners
Register entries have legal effects in dealings with third parties under § 15 HGB. These include the effects of published information and protections for third parties acting in good faith where information has not been registered.
How is a company entered in the commercial register?
Registration of a company in the commercial register involves the following process:
- Notarial certification – The application to the commercial register requires notarial certification. The notary checks the parties’ identities, the legal form and the completeness of the formation documents, such as the articles of association.
- Submission to the register court – The notary sends the electronic application documents to the responsible local court.
- Review by the court officer – The local court checks the formal requirements and completeness of the documents. If issues are identified, the notary receives an interim notice.
- Registration and publication – After review, the company is entered in the commercial register and published on the joint register portal of the German federal states. Registration in Section B establishes the legal entity.
Registration is now handled entirely through electronic registers. Since 2007, applications, changes and extracts have been created and stored electronically instead of in paper registers.
The joint register portal of the German federal states
Since 2007, the German federal states have operated their joint register portal at handelsregister.de. It provides access to basic information about registered German companies, current and chronological extracts, and filed documents such as articles of association and shareholder lists.
Many customers use a service provider like us to order documents without registering with the official portal. We arrange retrieval from the responsible local court and deliver the extract as a PDF, or a certified copy by post.
Legal basis: §§ 8, 9 and 15 HGB
The legal basis for the commercial register is set out in the German Commercial Code (HGB):
- § 8 HGB – Governs the establishment and maintenance of the commercial register by local courts, in electronic form since 2007.
- § 9 HGB – Makes the commercial register public: anyone may inspect it without demonstrating a legitimate interest. Electronic retrieval of register information has been free of charge since 1 August 2022.
- § 15 HGB – Governs the legal effects of register information in dealings with third parties, including protections for third parties acting in good faith.
- §§ 17–37 HGB – Address company names and related matters relevant to registration.
Where can I obtain a commercial register extract?
You can order a current extract for a company registered in HRA or HRB directly through our website. We arrange retrieval from the responsible local court:
- Current extract – current registration details (14,00 €; selected delivery costs extra)
- Chronological extract – the complete registration history
- Certified extract – bearing the local court’s seal, for public authorities, banks and notaries
- Apostille – authentication for international use
Frequently asked questions
What does the abbreviation HRA stand for?
HRA stands for Commercial Register, Section A. It records commercial partnerships (OHG and KG) and registered sole traders (eK). Section A is one of the two sections of Germany’s commercial register, maintained by the responsible local court.
Is HRB open to the public?
Yes. Under § 9 HGB, the commercial register is a public register. Anyone may retrieve register information electronically without demonstrating a legitimate interest. This official electronic retrieval has been free of charge since 1 August 2022. Our paid private service includes research, retrieval, processing, delivery and support. Official certification and additional services may incur separate charges. Entries are also maintained electronically on the joint register portal of the federal states and can be viewed there.
How do I read a commercial register number?
A commercial register number is always stated together with the responsible local court, for example ‘HRB 12345 (Amtsgericht Berlin Charlottenburg)’. Without the court name, the number is not unique because each local court maintains its own sequential numbering.
Must every business register in the commercial register?
No. Registration is required for incorporated companies (Section B registration is constitutive) and traders operating commercially organised businesses (Section A). Small businesses, independent professionals, and agricultural and forestry businesses are generally not required to register, although voluntary registration may be possible.