Starting a business at 16 or 17: registering a Gewerbe as a minor in Germany

Starting a businessLast updated: October 2026Reviewed by Vitalijs Kilsbach, founder & business coach

A street food van in the car park of an Edeka supermarket in the town of Rheine, a 17-year-old behind the counter – and on paper the business belongs to his mother. The story of Noel Schnieders, who opened his own fast-food van at 16, shows clearly how difficult it is for minors to start a business in Germany. A good idea is not enough: you need parental consent, usually approval from the Family Court (Familiengericht) and a plan for practical obstacles such as a bank account, credit and compulsory schooling.

In this article we look at the legal requirements for registering a Gewerbe (trade or business) before the age of 18, which legal form suits teenagers, how other young entrepreneurs have overcome these barriers and what changes once you come of age. The topic is relevant for international families too: more and more teenagers who have grown up in Germany want to earn money from their own ideas while still at school.

Can a minor register a Gewerbe in Germany?

In principle, yes – the Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung) itself sets no minimum age. What matters is civil law: under § 106 of the German Civil Code (BGB), people aged 7 to 17 have limited legal capacity (beschränkt geschäftsfähig). This means that parental consent is required for practically any legal transaction that is not exclusively to the minor’s advantage – and running a business independently clearly falls into this category.

The law provides a special mechanism for this: under § 112 BGB, parents can authorise their child to run a business independently (Erwerbsgeschäft). However, this authorisation alone is not enough – approval from the competent Family Court is also required (§ 1643 BGB). Only with this double safeguard can a teenager act largely independently in everyday business life.

Parental consent and Family Court approval: which signatures you need

In practice, a minor starting a business goes through three stages. The overview below shows who is responsible for each and what is checked:

Important: the approval does not cover “any business activity in general” but the specific business being registered. If the teenager later wants to start a second, completely different business, a new review will usually be required.

What to do if one parent refuses to sign

If both parents have joint parental responsibility, the consent of both is required in principle. If one parent refuses to sign – for example because contact has broken off or the parents see the project differently – the Family Court can, under § 1628 BGB, transfer the right to decide on matters of significant importance to one parent. But this route is neither simple nor quick: without a court decision, the business start remains blocked. For international families where one parent lives in another country, this question is often particularly pressing – it is worth consulting a family law specialist early.

Which legal form suits a teenager: Einzelunternehmen or GmbH

For most underage founders, only one legal form is realistic in practice – the Einzelunternehmen (sole proprietorship). A GmbH (limited liability company) is not an option for a simple reason: under § 6 (2) of the GmbH Act (GmbHG), the managing director (Geschäftsführer) must have unrestricted legal capacity, i.e. be of age. In theory a minor can be a shareholder (Gesellschafter) in a GmbH, represented by the parents or a supplementary guardian (Ergänzungspfleger), but operational management as Geschäftsführer is not open to them.

A common model – as the example of Noel Schnieders shows – is therefore to start as an Einzelunternehmen and convert the business into a GmbH after turning 18, once growth and higher liability risks call for it. More on the options for self-employment in our article “Self-employed in Germany in 2026”.

Bank account, credit, leasing: the practical obstacles

Besides the legal framework, it is above all everyday financial matters that make life difficult for young entrepreneurs. Magdalena Oehl, deputy chair of the association Startup Teens, puts it like this:

If you still want to get started, there are a few options: a business account with your parents involved, buying in instalments through your adult legal representatives, or crowdfunding via social media. Noel Schnieders financed part of his investment through a donation drive on Instagram and TikTok – around €4,000 was raised thanks to his growing following.

Compulsory schooling and business: how to combine them

In most federal states, full-time compulsory schooling (Vollzeitschulpflicht) applies until the end of lower secondary education (Sekundarstufe I), followed as a rule by compulsory vocational schooling (Berufsschulpflicht) until the age of 18 or until vocational training (Ausbildung) is completed. Anyone running a Gewerbe at the same time still has to meet this obligation. There are ways to combine the two, but they take effort: parallel vocational training, a recognised placement in your own business or an individual arrangement with the school supervisory authority (Schulaufsicht) or the Agentur für Arbeit.

In practice this is often the main source of stress: a fully fledged business alongside school or an Ausbildung almost inevitably means a seven-day working week.

Step-by-step checklist: registering a Gewerbe as a minor

1. Business plan. Prepare a viable business plan – with a realistic calculation of costs and income.
2. Parental consent. Obtain written consent from both parents with parental responsibility (if one parent has sole custody, that parent’s consent is enough).
3. Court approval. Apply to the Family Court for approval in connection with § 112 BGB.
4. Gewerbe registration. Once approval has been granted, register the Gewerbe with the competent Gewerbeamt (ID card, approval documents).
5. Tax registration. Register with the Finanzamt (tax office).
6. Industry permits. Clarify industry-specific requirements – in food service, for example, a health certificate (Gesundheitszeugnis) and hygiene instruction under the Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz).
7. Insurance. Take out the necessary insurance, above all business liability insurance (Betriebshaftpflichtversicherung).

A real-life example: how a 16-year-old launched a fast-food van

In February 2025, Noel Schnieders announced his plans publicly: in a video on Instagram and TikTok he said he wanted to start his own business that same year. Almost a month later he was already showing off a second-hand van he had bought for €10,000. Including repairs, eye-catching vehicle wrapping and new equipment, the total investment came to €22,000 – covered by savings, side jobs and a donation drive which, thanks to his growing social media following, raised around €4,000.

Because his father refused to provide the necessary signature, his mother registered the business in her name. Today Noel operates his van at a permanent location, has hired four employees on Minijob terms, earns extra income from catering at events and plans to open a second location. His stated goal is to eventually own twelve vans and to found a GmbH once he comes of age.

Financing a business without a loan: the alternatives

Because classic bank loans are practically unavailable to minors, young entrepreneurs usually combine different sources of financing. A general overview of equity and debt capital is in our article “Business financing: equity and debt capital”.

• Savings from side jobs and birthday and Christmas money
• Family support – for example as start-up capital or a guarantee
• Crowdfunding via social media, if you already have a following
• Used equipment instead of new, to reduce the investment
• Advice from the IHK (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and associations such as Startup Teens, which share their knowledge with young founders free of charge

What changes after 18

At 18, the need for parental consent and Family Court approval disappears completely. You can re-register the business in your own name, carry out banking transactions on your own, apply for loans and sign leasing contracts – and there are no longer any legal obstacles to founding a GmbH as its managing director (Geschäftsführer).

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

Starting a business as a minor in Germany is possible, but it does not happen by itself. Parental consent, Family Court approval and practical barriers with banks and financing require early planning – and often compromises in the choice of legal form. Anyone who knows these steps and relies on a well-thought-out business plan can show, like Noel Schnieders, that age need not be an obstacle to entrepreneurial success.

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