Once you register a commercial activity, every business in Germany automatically becomes a member of the relevant chamber – the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or the Chamber of Crafts (HWK). Membership is required by law, but there are significant exemptions for new businesses.

The difference between the IHK and the HWK

Trade, services, IT and industry fall under the IHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer). Businesses and craftspeople carrying out construction, installation, repair or craft work listed in the Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung) belong to the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer).

How fees are structured: basic fee and levy

The fee consists of two parts: a fixed basic fee (Grundbeitrag) and a levy (Umlage) calculated on the business's trade profit. The basic fee is set by the regional chamber and depends on the legal form and size of the business; for small firms it is usually a few dozen to a few hundred euros a year.

Exemptions for new businesses

Individuals who are not entered in the commercial register and are starting their own business for the first time in five years are exempt from IHK fees in the year they start and the following year, provided their annual trade profit does not exceed €25,000. In the third and fourth years, they pay only the basic fee without the levy.

Free advice and services from the chambers

Membership gives access to a wide range of free services: initial legal advice on standard contracts, checks on company names, certificates of origin for exports, apprenticeship listings and seminars on tax and digitalisation.

What to check

  • Check that your activity has been classified correctly when you receive the chamber's first letter.
  • Apply for an exemption from fees (Beitragsbefreiung) if your income is below the threshold.
  • Use the chamber's experts to check your brand and company name in advance.
  • Register apprenticeships with the chamber when you take on trainees (Auszubildende).

Example situation

The new owner of an online shop with a profit of €16,000 in the first year sends the IHK a copy of her tax assessment and is fully exempt from fees for 24 months.

Next step

A letter from the IHK is not a fine but the standard registration procedure; do not ignore the questionnaire, so that the exemption applies in time.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.