Business registration and licenses are covered by the Municipal Department 63 for Commerce and Trade and Municipal district offices. If you want to start your own business in Vienna, here are some basic information which you need to know.
To apply for a business license, one must meet the following requirements:
• Legal age
• Integrity
• No grounds for disqualification
• EEA or Swiss citizen or relevant certificate of residence or a business license for foreigners
• Proof of qualification for regulated trades and crafts
If your business is under freight and transport you must meet the following criteria:
• Proof of qualification
• Financial efficiency
• Sufficient number of parking lots
• EEA citizenship
Foreigners may have a trade or business just like Austrian nationals unless the trade is regulated. They may also be appointed managers under the trade law, given that they have agreements between their country of origin and Austria. If no agreement has been made for example in the case of individuals granted asylum or stateless persons, they may only have a business if they are legal residents of Austria. If they are not, they must become employed before they can start a business.
However, citizens of the following countries do not require a certificate of residence. Members of the EU states and EEA countries such as Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Spain
Immediate family members such as the spouse, direct descendants below the age of 21 and dependents of these citizens are entitled to temporary or permanent residence. They are allowed to have businesses just like Austrian nationals.
Visit http://www.wien.gv.at/ for regulated trades and further information.
Image from Official GDC
