The Handelsregister is a public electronic register of merchants and commercial companies. The competent register courts maintain it and record the company details required by law.
Meaning and context
Not every business has a commercial register entry. A municipal business registration, or Gewerbeanmeldung, is a different process. Legal form and statutory registration requirements determine whether a business appears in this or another register.
What the documents show
The register comprises entries on a register sheet and separately filed documents. An extract presents the registered information; a shareholder list or articles of association may need to be retrieved separately.
Research tip
Start with the registered name, office and, if available, court and number. An unsuccessful search does not establish that a business does not exist or lacks a municipal registration.