A graphic designer wants to take on her first client jobs, and a student wants to offer IT services on the side. Neither needs a master craftsman’s examination or any other proof of qualification, because both activities count as free trades. Free trades in Austria are therefore an uncomplicated way into commercial self-employment: registration is free of charge and can be done online.
This article explains what a free trade (freies Gewerbe) is, how the official list of free trades is structured and how to find the right trade wording. After that, it covers registration, the running costs and running a trade alongside a job. The information comes from the Ministry of Economy (BMWET), the Austrian Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich, WKO), the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice, AMS) and the Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung, GewO).
Key points at a glance:
- A free trade is any commercial activity that the Trade Regulation Act does not list as a regulated trade or partial trade.
- No proof of qualification is required for a free trade, so no master craftsman’s examination, for example; the general requirements still apply.
- The federal list of free trades (Bundeseinheitliche Liste der freien Gewerbe) sets out many trade wordings but is not exhaustive.
- The trade registration is free of charge and can also be done online via the Austrian trade information system (Gewerbeinformationssystem Austria, GISA).
- After that come the registrations with social insurance and the tax office; membership of the Economic Chamber is automatic.
What is a free trade?
The Trade Regulation Act distinguishes between activities that require proof of qualification and those that do not. According to section 5 GewO, free trades are all commercial activities that are not expressly listed as regulated trades or partial trades. No proof of qualification has to be provided for them. So what is a free trade in everyday terms? For example, an advertising agency, online trading in non-regulated goods or services in information technology.
No proof of qualification does not mean that no rules apply at all. The general requirements for every trade registration, such as legal capacity and no grounds for exclusion, also apply to free trades. In addition, specific rules on exercising the trade can exist for individual activities. The AMS gives the free trade of pharmaceutical sales representative (Pharmareferent) as an example: no proof of qualification is needed at registration, but the pharmaceutical representative examination under the Medicines Act is required for exercising it.
Requirements for a free trade
For the trade licence of a free trade, the general requirements of the Trade Regulation Act apply. According to the BMWET and the USP, for sole traders these are Austrian citizenship or that of an EU or EEA state or Switzerland, and a suitable residence permit for third-country nationals. On top of that come legal capacity, which as a rule means being at least 18 years old, and the absence of grounds for exclusion from trade, such as certain court convictions or financial offences.
The trade also generally needs a location in Austria, but no residence in Austria; except for market traders, for example, the residence can also be in another EEA state, according to the WKO. Whether a flat is suitable as a location depends, among other things, on the zoning and on the lease or the condominium agreement.
Free and regulated trades
The difference between free and regulated trades lies above all in the proof of qualification. The main points at a glance:
| Free trade | Regulated trade | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Everything not listed as regulated or as a partial trade | Expressly listed in section 94 GewO |
| Proof of qualification | Not required | Required |
| Examples | Advertising agency, trade in goods (except regulated trading), information technology services | Carpenter, metal technology, engineering offices |
| Registration | Free of charge with the trade authority | Free of charge with the trade authority, with evidence of qualification |
When registering a free trade, care must be taken not to encroach on activities reserved for a regulated trade. Trading in goods, for example, is a free trade, with the exception of the regulated trading businesses.
Free trades: the official list
The federal list of free trades was drawn up jointly by the BMWET, all offices of the provincial governments and the Economic Chamber organisation. The current version is dated 9 September 2026 and runs to 34 pages with currently more than 480 trade wordings. It applies to new trade registrations; older wordings of existing trades are not affected.
The federal list is extensive but not exhaustive. According to the BMWET, it does not claim to list every conceivable free trade, so it sets no limit to the inventiveness of resourceful entrepreneurs. The list also works with so-called collective wordings (Sammelwortlaute), which combine many similar activities, for example the rental of movable goods with certain exceptions. There is no legal claim to have a particular wording included, because the list is a working aid for consistent administration.
How the list is structured
The free trades are listed alphabetically, each with its trade wording. According to the BMWET, notes in italics are not part of the wording itself but explain it in more detail. An asterisk at the end of a wording means that there is a job description for it in the annex. The list is adapted at regular intervals, so when registering a trade, it is worth checking the version that is current at that time.
Examples of free trades
A few examples from the federal list and from the AMS show how broad the range is:
For a free trade in goods, this means: trading is free in principle, but individual trading businesses are regulated. Which trades are regulated is listed in section 94 GewO; if the classification is unclear, the Economic Chamber can advise.
Finding the right trade wording
At registration, the trade is described with its exact wording. If the activity is on the list, that wording is used. For some collective wordings, according to the WKO, a specifying addition can be attached, for example the addition motor vehicle or sports equipment for the rental of movable goods. This also makes it easier to assign the business to the right sector group (Fachgruppe) of the Economic Chamber.
If the activity is not covered by any existing wording, a new wording can in principle be registered. The condition is that it is a free trade that does not encroach on the area reserved for a regulated trade; whether the wording is admissible is decided by the trade authority. Because the classification is not always clear-cut, it is worth getting advice from the Economic Chamber beforehand.
Registering a free trade
Registering a free trade in Austria is informal and free of charge. Anyone who wants to register a free trade proceeds as follows, according to the WKO and the BMWET:
Take the suitable trade wording from the federal list or formulate a new wording.
Decide on the business location; for activities with noise, smoke or dust, an operating facility permit may be required.
Have documents ready, for example your passport or birth certificate with proof of citizenship. Add the residence permit for third-country nationals and the declaration on grounds for exclusion.
Submit the registration to the trade authority of the location, in person, in writing or online via GISA, the USP or the WKO.
If all requirements are met and the documents are complete, the activity can in principle start from the day of registration.
Complete the registration with the Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS) in the first month. Report the start of the activity to the tax office.
Registering online via GISA
Registering a free trade online works via the Austrian trade information system. For sole proprietorships, the Business Service Portal (Unternehmensserviceportal, USP) also bundles the founding steps in one place, from the trade registration to the registrations with the tax office and social insurance. According to the City of Vienna, ID Austria or an EU Login allows an immediate electronic entry in GISA. If you prefer support, you can also register the trade via the WKO founders’ service (Gründerservice); the WKO can then forward the registration electronically to the authority.
After registration
If the requirements are met, the authority enters the trade in GISA within three months and sends an extract as confirmation. With the trade registration, you automatically become a member of the Economic Chamber and are assigned to the sector group that matches the trade wording. The trade authority forwards the registration to the SVS, but a separate registration by the trader with the SVS is still due within the first month after founding. If the trade is not carried out for a while later on, it can be registered as dormant with the Economic Chamber. If it is dormant for a whole calendar year, the basic contribution is, according to the WKO, payable at no more than half.
How much does a free trade cost?
The registration itself costs nothing: according to the BMWET, trade registrations are exempt from federal fees and charges. The costs of a free trade only arise in day-to-day business. With the registration, you become a member of the Economic Chamber, and the membership comes with an annual basic contribution (Grundumlage) whose amount varies by sector group. In return, the chamber offers its members free legal and business advice, for example. Because contributions and levies can change every year, it is worth checking the current figures directly with the SVS and the WKO.
Social insurance is one of the main running cost items. For a free trade, according to the WKO, you currently pay 6.8% of the contribution base for health insurance, 18.5% for pension insurance and 1.53% for the self-employed pension provision, plus a fixed €12.95 a month for accident insurance. The contribution base is the income from the business, with a minimum contribution base of €551.10 a month (as of 2026). With very low income and turnover, an exemption from health and pension insurance is possible on application under personal conditions; accident insurance still applies.
For the taxes on a free trade, the general rules apply. Anyone whose income exceeds the tax-free threshold for the respective calendar year is assessed for income tax. VAT does not have to be charged as long as turnover currently stays at or below €55,000 gross in both the current and the previous year, the so-called small business rule (Kleinunternehmerregelung). Depending on the activity, there are also costs for rent, insurance, bookkeeping or software, for example.
A free trade on the side
A free trade does not have to be your main occupation; it can also be run alongside a job. According to the AMS, the same registration obligations apply on the side as in a main occupation. It is worth checking the employment contract beforehand, because non-compete clauses or a ban on secondary employment can restrict self-employed work. For tax purposes, the income from the job and the profit from the trade are added together. For social insurance, multiple insurance under the ASVG and the GSVG then applies.
In short: A free trade needs no proof of qualification and can be registered free of charge and online. On an ongoing basis, there are social insurance contributions, the Economic Chamber’s basic contribution and, where applicable, taxes.
A business account for the free trade
A separate business account keeps the trade’s income and expenses apart from private money; the AMS also recommends this, because it makes bookkeeping and the tax return easier. With Vivid, sole traders and new self-employed persons (Neue Selbständige) from Austria can open a business account, including for self-employment on the side. Opening the account itself costs nothing. What the account offers for the start:
Even on plans without a monthly fee, individual services can incur charges. These include additional cards, cash withdrawals above certain allowances or premium features from higher plans.
Vivid at a glance: an online business account for the self-employed in Austria, including on the side, with plans from €0 a month and invoicing directly in the account.
An account for starting out on your own
Open the Vivid business account online and keep business and private matters apart from the start.
Frequently asked questions
What is a free trade?
A commercial activity that the Trade Regulation Act does not list as a regulated trade or partial trade. No proof of qualification is required for it, but the general requirements apply.
Which trades are free?
For example, advertising agency, trade in goods except the regulated trading businesses, information technology services, professional photographer or courier service. The federal list currently contains more than 480 trade wordings.
Where can I find the list of free trades?
The BMWET publishes the federal list as a PDF; the WKO also provides information on it. The current version is dated 9 September 2026 and is adapted regularly.
How much does a free trade cost?
Registration is free of charge. On an ongoing basis, there are SVS contributions, the Economic Chamber’s basic contribution and, where applicable, taxes. SVS contributions are based on income, with a minimum contribution base.
Can I register a free trade online?
Yes, via GISA or the USP. With ID Austria or an EU Login, an immediate electronic entry in GISA is possible.
Can anyone register a free trade?
Anyone who meets the general requirements, for example being of age and having no grounds for exclusion, needs no further proof for a free trade.
Can I run a free trade alongside my job?
Yes. The same registration obligations apply as for a main occupation, and the employment contract should be checked beforehand for non-compete clauses or a ban on secondary employment.
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. The rules and amounts mentioned come from the Trade Regulation Act and from the information published by the Ministry of Economy, the Austrian Economic Chamber and the Public Employment Service; for a specific case, the Economic Chamber is the right point of contact. Payment services are provided by Vivid Money S.A., 21 rue Glesener, Luxembourg, L-1631, Luxembourg, an Electronic Money Institution authorized and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, Luxembourg, under the register number W00000015.
