Trade practice with branch office

From January 1, 2021 the Trade Act distinguishes between trades requiring a permit and trades requiring registration. The trades requiring a license can be found in Annex 3 of the Trade Regulation Ordinance.

Merkblatt Gewerbeausübung

Registration of a simple trade

If you intend to exercise a trade that is not a trade requiring a license, you must register the trade. The registration must be accompanied by the required evidence, in particular:

• Capacity to act (in the case of legal entities commercial register extract),
• Reliability (criminal record extract; garnishment register extract),
• Proof of identity, for third-country nationals Liechtenstein residence permit,
• Plan of the location of the business premises; excerpt from the land register; lease agreement or equivalent document,
• a detailed description of the business purpose and
• the payment of the fee.

Your trade license can only come into existence if the exercise requirements are met and the registration has been made with all the supporting documents attached. You may exercise the trade subject to registration only if the exercise requirements with the application, even if the Office of National Economy has not yet verified the requirements. However, you are free to wait until the Office of National Economy has checked the prerequisites and made the entry in the trade register before commencing the activity.

The Office of National Economy will check immediately, at the latest within three months after receipt of the complete application, whether the prerequisites for exercising the activity are met.

If the prerequisites for exercising the trade are met, the Office of National Economy shall make the entry in the Trade Register and send you an extract from the Trade Register.

If the exercise requirements are not met, the Office of Economic Affairs shall determine this by order and take the necessary measures. Anyone who carries out a commercial activity without a trade license will be punished with a fine of up to CHF 20,000.

Application for a business license

If you intend to exercise a trade that requires a license, you must submit an application for a trade license . The application for a business license shall be accompanied by the required supporting documents, in particular:

• Capacity to act (in the case of legal entities, extract from the Commercial Register),
• Reliability (criminal record extract; garnishment register extract),
• Proof of identity, in the case of third-country nationals Liechtenstein residence card,
• Specialized suitability (diplomas or examination certificates, work certificates or work references,
• plan of the location of the business premises; excerpt from the land register; lease agreement or equivalent document,
• a detailed description of the business purpose and
• the payment of the fee.

The Office of National Economy will consider your application without delay, at the latest within three months of receipt of the complete application. The decision period begins to run from the date of receipt of the complete application. In difficult matters, the decision period may be reasonably extended once.

If the exercise requirements are met, you will receive an extract from the trade register. The issuance of an order is waived. However, you can request a formal order.

If you do not meet the exercise requirements, you will receive an appealable order.

Changes in business license

For example, if you change the purpose of the trade, the management or business management, the place of business or the address for service, you must notify the Office of National Economy.

If the change relates to a trade that requires a license, the Office of Economic Affairs must approve the change in advance. Please use the application form.

If the change only affects a simple trade, use the Application Form.  

Resting the business license

If you wish to temporarily suspend your business license, this must be declared in writing to the Office of National Economy. During the suspension of the business license, a domestic delivery address must be designated. The Office of National Economy must be notified in advance of the resumption of commercial activity.

For security-related activities the trade license may be suspended for a maximum of five years.

Waiver of trade license

If you wish to surrender your business license, notify the Office of National Economy using the appropriate form (Anmeldegewerbe, Bewilligungsgewerbe). Your business license will be cancelled free of charge.

Extract from register

If you need a current trade register extract, you can request it here using order form.

Special trades

Accountants, real estate agents and goods dealers

Special trades within the meaning of Art. 3(1)(n), (p) and (q) of the Due Diligence Act, in particular accountants, real estate agents and dealers in goods, must prove the reliability of their qualified (more than 25%) beneficial owners