Procedure descriptions

Applying for subsequent changes and additions to the activities listed on the travelling trade licence

If you want to be self-employed in the travelling trade, you need a travelling trade licence

You operate a travelling trade if you work as a showman, "travelling salesman" or owner of a market stall, i.e. if you offer your services or goods at constantly changing locations.

Pursuant to Section 55 of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act, a travelling trade is carried out by anyone who, on a commercial basis, without prior appointment outside their commercial establishment (Section 4 (3) of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act) or without having such an establishment

  • Offers goods for sale or seeks out (sells) or purchases orders,
  • Offers services or solicits orders for services or
  • performs entertaining activities as a showman or in the manner of a showman

The travelling trade licence may be restricted in terms of content, issued with a time limit and subject to conditions insofar as this is necessary to protect the general public or consumers; under the same conditions, the subsequent inclusion, amendment and addition of conditions is also permitted

If your travelling trade activity changes, you must have your travelling trade licence amended by the competent authority if it goes beyond the permitted activities

Responsible authority

The municipality or municipal administration/trade office in which you have your habitual residence or in which the future company will be based is responsible for processing the application

Stadt Waldkirch

Details

Prerequisite

You must already be in possession of a travel trade license for the competent authority to subsequently amend or supplement your travel trade license.

Procedure

Once you have submitted the application for the subsequent inclusion, amendment and addition of conditions to your travel trade license to your competent authority and all documents are complete, the competent authority will check whether the relevant requirements have been met.

If all documents are complete, your travel trade license will be amended.

Deadlines

The change to the travelling trade licence must be awaited before starting work.

The competent authority must decide on your application within a period of three months. This period begins with the receipt of the complete documents. After this period has expired, the licence applied for is deemed to have been granted if your application is sufficiently specific.

Note: The competent authority may extend the deadline once if this is justified by the complexity of the matter. The competent authority must justify this extension and notify you in good time.

Required documents

  • identity card
  • Travel trade card

Costs

Depends on the respective administrative fee schedule of the state or on the fee statutes of the authorities responsible under state law

Processing time

If the documents are complete, the application will be processed promptly.

Detailed information

  • Information on the business start-up portal of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on the subject of trade/travel industry

Legal basis

Gewerbeordnung (GewO):

  • § 55 Absatz 3 Reisegewerbekarte

Release note

Machine generated, based on the German release by: Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 07.11.2025

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