Business premises and working from home

In short: A small business may often be run from home. The business address is then your home address. Tenants should first check whether the lease allows it.

In more detail: Office work, online selling and services without customer visits usually do not disturb residential peace and need no landlord permission. With noise, customer traffic, storage of large quantities or smells you usually need the landlord’s consent and possibly a building permit for a change of use.

In detail

• Address: the business premises appear on the registration and in the imprint.
• Imprint: a valid postal address must be stated. Anyone who does not want to publish a home address can rent an office or use an imprint service (only with a real, reachable address).
• Tenancy law: pure office and computer work is usually allowed, regular customer traffic is not.
• Taxes: a home office can be deductible (Home office and home-office flat rate).
• Storage: larger quantities of goods in the cellar or a room are an issue under tenancy law and for insurance.

See also: Imprint, Registering a business step by step