Commercial Register Registration: What address do you need, how much does it cost, and how does the registered office work with a virtual office?
Short answer
To register your business in the commercial register, you need a registered office —a valid address in Germany that can be used for legal service and will be entered in the register. A virtual business address is fully acceptable as long as the provider accepts mail and documents on your behalf. At Teeberg, this is included in the Virtual Office package starting at 63 euros per month.
What you'll learn in this article
Anyone setting up a GmbH or UG needs an official address—the company’s registered office—for registration in the commercial register. Many founders are unsure whether a business address is the same thing, whether a virtual office is sufficient, and what all of this costs. This article answers all those questions.
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they have different legal meanings:
Business address
The address you use for your legal notice, invoices, and business correspondence. For sole proprietorships and freelancers, a mailing address is sufficient.
Headquarters
Your company's official address as listed in the commercial register. Required for GmbH, UG, and AG. Requires the Virtual Office package.
Not every legal form requires registration. Corporations must always be entered in the commercial register:
| Legal form | Registration | Department |
|---|---|---|
| GmbH, UG (limited liability), AG | Requirement | HRB |
| Sole Proprietorship (e.K.), General Partnership (oHG), Limited Partnership (KG) | Requirement | HRA |
| Sole proprietorships, freelancers, GbR | not required | – |
The company's registered office must be a valid address in Germany. This means that legal and official documents must be able to be served there in a legally valid manner. The address is listed publicly in the Commercial Register.
✓ Acceptable as a registered office
✗ Not allowed
Proof of the address must be provided to the notary before an application for registration can be filed. A service agreement with the address provider is required.
A virtual office is fully recognized as a registered office for the purpose of the commercial register—provided that the provider accepts mail and legal service of process. This is what distinguishes a genuine virtual office provider from a mere mailbox address.
What you need to bring to the notary:
Service agreement with the virtual office provider that lists the address as the company's registered office
Address confirmation from the provider (usually as a PDF, sent immediately after booking)
Confirmation that legal service of process is accepted and forwarded
Many entrepreneurs appreciate the virtual office as a business address because their home address does not appear in the publicly accessible commercial register.
Do you even need a physical office for your business? Starting a business without an office.
The registration costs consist of notary fees and court fees and are based on the company’s share capital:
| Cost item | LLC (Sample Articles of Incorporation) | GmbH (€25,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Notary fees | approx. €200 to €400 | approx. €500 to €800 |
| Court fee (HR) | approx. €150 | approx. €150 to €300 |
| Total | approx. €400 to €600 | approx. €700 to €1,100 |
Book a corporate headquarters
Book a virtual office address, receive a usage agreement and address confirmation. It only takes a few minutes.
Prepare the articles of association
Sample minutes (for up to 3 shareholders) or custom articles of incorporation. The address of the company’s registered office is included therein.
Notary appointment (notarization)
The articles of association and the appointment of the managing director must be notarized. All shareholders must be present or represented by proxy.
Pay in the share capital & file with a notary
Deposit at least €12,500 (GmbH) into the company account. Proof of the deposit is sent to the notary, who submits all documents electronically to the local court.
Registration & Commercial Registry Number
The local court will process your application within 1 to 4 weeks. You will receive your HRB or HRA number and will be officially registered.
The commercial register number consists of the division (HRA or HRB), a sequential number, and the local court code. Example: HRB 12345 B = corporation, registered at the Berlin (Charlottenburg) Local Court.
HRA
Division A
Sole proprietorships (e.K.), general partnerships (oHG), limited partnerships (KG)
HRB
Division B
Corporations: GmbH, UG (limited liability), AG — relevant for most founders
Once registered, the number must be included on all business documents and in the legal notice. The register can be viewed free of charge at handelsregister.de.
No registered office, no registration
Before the notary gets involved, before the local court reviews your documents—you need a business address that can serve as your registered office. Teeberg provides it: recognized by notaries, active in 5 minutes, starting at 63 euros.
To register your business with the commercial register, you'll need the Virtual Office Package. It includes an official business address recognized by notaries and local courts nationwide—along with an address confirmation that you can bring with you to your notary appointment.
Virtual Office
Starting at €63/month
Official business address for the commercial register and notary. Daily scanning service, office space on demand, mail forwarding. For GmbHs, UGs, and all corporations.
Postal address
Starting at €28/month
Business address for legal notices, business registration, and tax purposes. For sole proprietorships and freelancers. Does not include registration in the commercial register.
"I had a notary appointment in three days and needed a valid mailing address right away. Teeberg sent me the address confirmation within minutes. It worked perfectly at the notary's office."
Tobias R., founder of a limited liability company, Berlin
Related articles
The registered office is the address of a company officially listed in the commercial register. The business address is the more general term for the address used in legal notices, invoices, and correspondence. For the commercial register, you need a registered office, not just a business address.
Yes. A virtual business address is recognized as a company’s registered office in the commercial register if the provider accepts and forwards legal service of process. Notaries and local courts accept this form nationwide. A service agreement and a confirmation of address from the provider are required for the notary appointment.
The commercial register number consists of the department code (HRA or HRB), a sequential number, and the abbreviation of the competent local court. Example: HRB 12345 B stands for a corporation (HRB), number 12345, registered with the Berlin (Charlottenburg) Local Court.
The costs consist of notary fees and court fees. For a UG with a model articles of association, they range from approximately 400 to 600 euros; for a GmbH with 25,000 euros in share capital, they range from approximately 700 to 1,100 euros.
After the notary appointment, the local court typically processes the registration within 1 to 4 weeks. During this time, the company is considered to be "i.G." (in formation).
Yes. You can change your address in the commercial register at any time, but this requires another appointment with a notary and a new filing with the local court. The costs typically range from 100 to 300 euros. With a permanent virtual office address, you can avoid these costs when you move.
We will clarify all your questions in a 15-minute phone call and guide you through the steps to the Virtual Office together
