Austria's platform for trade law & market data
Start a Business in Austria
Understand what you need, register correctly and check your market — explained in English, with every legal statement sourced from the Austrian Trade Act (Gewerbeordnung).
I already live in Austria Go straight to the six steps below — from “do I need a licence?” to your market. I'm starting from abroad Citizenship, residence and foreign qualifications change your path — start with the foreigners guide.
Your path, step by step
Each step links to a detailed guide with the relevant paragraphs and sources. Prefer a list tailored to your situation? Try the Founder Navigator — up to 5 questions, shareable result.
- 01 Check whether you need a trade licence at all Liberal professions, agriculture and some other activities are outside trade law. Start here if you are not sure.
- 02 Free trade or regulated trade? The most important distinction in Austrian trade law. Free trades need no qualification proof; the 75 regulated trades do.
- 03 Find your trade All 75 regulated trades at a glance, each linking to its requirements — or use the decision helper if you are unsure.
- 04 Prove your qualification Exam, individual assessment (§19) or a qualified managing director (§39) — the possible routes, with the paragraph next to each.
- 05 Register your trade Where to register, which documents you need and what happens afterwards. The registration itself costs € 0.
- 06 Check your market Competitor density, trend and district comparison from official GISA data — free, no sign-up.
What does it cost?Registration € 0 — the honest full list Knowledge baseAll English guides in one place GlossaryGewerbe, GISA, Befähigung — the terms explained
Legally binding is only the German text of the Gewerbeordnung 1994 (RIS). This page explains; the law decides.