Minimum age for registering a business

In short: The law names no fixed minimum age. With the parents’ consent and the family court’s approval a minor can run a business. In practice it is a topic for teenagers, not small children.

In more detail: The Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung) knows no minimum age. What matters is legal capacity under the Civil Code: below 7 children have none, from 7 limited capacity. The family court checks the child’s welfare, and the younger the child, the more critically it will look at time, risk and independence.

In detail

• In practice: approvals mostly go to teenagers from about 14 to 16 with manageable plans (online selling, tutoring, crafts, web design).
• Hearing: from age 14 a child is normally heard in person.
• Digital routes: online business registration using the ID card’s online function often requires an identity card (online function from 16); otherwise you go in person.
• Payment providers: Stripe, PayPal and many banks demand legal age for business accounts.
• Alternative: as a school company without a business you can gain first experience (School company and small business).

See also: Family court approval, Registering a business step by step