English
Austrian Trade Law Glossary
German → English translations of all important terms you will encounter
when registering a trade in Austria. Bookmark this page for reference.
Core Terms
| German | English | Explanation |
|---|
| Gewerbe | Trade / Business | A regulated business activity under Austrian law |
| Gewerbeordnung (GewO) | Trade Act | The main law governing trades in Austria (since 1994) |
| Gewerbeanmeldung | Trade registration | The act of registering your trade with the authority |
| Gewerbeberechtigung | Trade license / authorization | Your legal right to practice a trade |
| Gewerbeschein | Trade certificate | The document proving your trade registration |
Trade Types
| German | English | Explanation |
|---|
| Freies Gewerbe | Free trade | No qualification needed, register and start immediately |
| Reglementiertes Gewerbe | Regulated trade | Requires proof of qualification (75 trades listed in §94) |
| Handwerk | Craft trade | Subset of regulated trades requiring Master exam |
| Zuverlaessigkeitsgewerbe | Reliability trade | Requires pre-approval before starting (e.g. security, funeral) |
Qualification Terms
| German | English | Explanation |
|---|
| Befaehigungsnachweis | Qualification proof | Evidence of professional competency |
| Meisterpruefung | Master exam | Comprehensive qualification exam for craft trades |
| Befaehigungspruefung | Qualification exam | Trade-specific qualification exam |
| Individuelle Befaehigung | Individual assessment | Qualification through work experience alone (§19 GewO) |
| Gewerberechtlicher Geschaeftsfuehrer | Qualified trade manager | Person with qualification employed by the business (§39) |
| Unternehmerpruefung | Entrepreneur exam | Business knowledge test (integrated since 2017) |
| Lehrabschluss | Apprenticeship completion | Certificate from completed vocational training |
Authorities & Systems
| German | English | Explanation |
|---|
| Bezirksverwaltungsbehoerde | District authority | The office that processes trade registrations |
| Magistrat | City magistrate | Municipal authority in statutory cities |
| GISA | Trade Information System | Online portal for trade registration |
| GISA-Express | GISA Express | Automated instant registration for free trades (since 2026) |
| USP | Business Service Portal | Government portal for business services |
| WKO | Austrian Chamber of Commerce | Mandatory membership for all trades |
| SVS | Social Insurance for Self-Employed | Mandatory social/health insurance |
| RIS | Legal Information System | Official database of Austrian laws |
Legal & Administrative Terms
| German | English | Explanation |
|---|
| Betriebsanlage | Business premises | Physical location requiring official approval |
| Betriebsanlagengenehmigung | Premises approval | Permission to operate from a specific location |
| Strafregisterbescheinigung | Criminal record check | Required if less than 5 years in Austria |
| Bundesland | Federal state / province | One of Austria's 9 states |
| Bescheid | Official decision / decree | Formal administrative decision |
| Gebuerenfrei | Free of charge | No fees — trade registration costs €0 |
| NACE-Code | NACE code | EU economic activity classification |
Tax & Insurance Terms
| German | English | Explanation |
|---|
| Kleinunternehmerregelung | Small business exemption | VAT exemption below €22,000/year (NOT "Kleingewerbe"!) |
| Umsatzsteuer (USt) | VAT (Value Added Tax) | 20% standard rate in Austria |
| Einkommensteuer | Income tax | Progressive tax on business profits |
| Gewinnfreibetrag | Profit allowance | 15% tax-free on first €33,000 profit |
| NEUFOG | New Business Promotion Act | Tax exemptions for new businesses (3 years) |
| Pflichtversicherung | Mandatory insurance | Social insurance obligation for all self-employed |
Business Structure Terms
| German | English | Explanation |
|---|
| Einzelunternehmen (EPU) | Sole proprietorship | Most common form for new businesses |
| GmbH | Limited liability company | Tax-efficient above ~€60K profit |
| OG | General partnership | Two or more partners, unlimited liability |
| KG | Limited partnership | General + limited partners |
| GesbR | Civil law partnership | Simplest partnership form |
Translation Status: UNOFFICIAL
These translations are for orientation. Official Austrian forms and legal documents
are exclusively in German.
General guidance only, not legal advice. Last verified: April 2026.