Reading a German commercial register extract
An extract from the Handelsregister (commercial register) shows who a company is, who may represent it and whether it still exists. A few glances tell you the most important points.
In short
- HRA covers sole traders and partnerships, HRB covers corporations.
- Look at representation, Prokura, registered office and notes such as liquidation or deletion.
- What has been entered and published can be held against you.
What the commercial register contains
The commercial register is kept by the local courts (Amtsgerichte) and is public. Since August 2022 you can access register content free of charge via the joint register portal of the German federal states. The register has two divisions:
- Division A (HRA): sole traders (eingetragener Kaufmann), general partnerships (OHG) and limited partnerships (KG), including the GmbH & Co. KG.
- Division B (HRB): corporations such as the GmbH, the UG (haftungsbeschränkt) and the AG.
Cooperatives, professional partnerships and associations are kept in separate registers.
The key details
- Company name and registered office: does the name match the invoice and contract exactly? A new registered office shortly before a large order can be a warning sign.
- Object of the company: does it fit what the partner is offering you?
- Capital: the share or registered capital says something about the liable assets at the start, not about solvency today.
- Representation: who is managing director (Geschäftsführer) or board member, and may they act alone or only jointly?
- Prokura: holders of Prokura (a broad statutory power of attorney) may conclude almost all transactions for the company, with sole Prokura even on their own.
Warning signs
Entries such as „aufgelöst“ (dissolved), „Liquidator“, „von Amts wegen gelöscht“ (deleted ex officio) or opened insolvency proceedings always deserve attention. Frequent changes of management or registered office within a short time should also be questioned.
What § 15 HGB means
The commercial register enjoys public reliance. Put simply: as long as a fact requiring registration, such as the removal of a managing director, has not been entered and published, it cannot be held against you unless you knew about it (§ 15 (1) HGB, German Commercial Code). Once it has been entered and published, you generally have to accept it (§ 15 (2) HGB). That is why a look at the register before important contracts pays off.
Types of extract
The current printout (aktueller Abdruck) shows today's status. The chronological printout (chronologischer Abdruck) also contains earlier entries and so shows changes of name, registered office and management. Register announcements inform you about new entries.
Check with Valifex
Valifex brings many of these checks together in one step and documents the result with a check number. The check report shows the entry with status and the line “Registered office (commercial register)”. In the Business plan you also see the management network, from register data only. Start a free trial with 20 checks in 14 days, or read the FAQ.
This article gives a general overview, as of November 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and does not replace an assessment of the individual case by your tax adviser or lawyer.