In short
- Anyone in Liechtenstein who carries out an activity independently, regularly and with the intention of making a profit needs a business licence (Gewerbeberechtigung), unless the activity is excluded from the Trade Act or governed by a special law (GewG Art. 2 and 3, in German).
- Simple trades are registered with the Office of Economic Affairs (Amt für Volkswirtschaft). If the requirements are met, you may start trading once you have registered (GewG Art. 9 and 20).
- Trades that need a permit, such as master builder, hairdresser, electrician, hospitality or real estate agent, may only start once the permit has been granted (GewG Art. 10; list in GewV Annex 3). Whether your activity needs a permit is explained on Do I need a trade permit?.
- Since 10 September 2025, applications are filed digitally on the eGewerbe platform with an eID.li (LLV, eGewerbe, in German).
- Forming a company does not replace the business licence. We support you with both: classifying your activity, preparing the documents and a business premises at In der Specki 3 in Schaan (how we help).
Business licence or company formation?
The business licence governs what you may do. The legal form governs who the business is and who is liable. These are two separate steps with two offices: the licence with the Office of Economic Affairs, the registration of a company with the Office of Justice (Amt für Justiz).
| Your plan | What you also need |
|---|---|
| On your own as a natural person (sole proprietorship) | A business licence in your name. A commercially run trade must be entered in the commercial register; exemptions apply up to CHF 300,000 annual turnover, but not, for example, to trust services, consulting, debt collection or brokers (HRV Art. 42 to 45; LLV, Einzelfirma). |
| With a GmbH, AG or Anstalt | First form the company, then obtain the business licence for it, with a managing director under the Trade Act (GewG Art. 11(2) and 17). More: Form a GmbH, Form an AG, Form an Anstalt. |
| As a foreign company | A domestic branch, a business premises and the business licence (GewG Art. 11(2)(c)). See Registering a branch in Liechtenstein. |
We compare the legal forms on Liechtenstein legal forms.
What the law requires
As a natural person
You have legal capacity and are reliable, you are a national of an EEA state or Switzerland, or a third-country national with at least five years of continuous residence in Liechtenstein, you have a business premises and a delivery address in Liechtenstein, and you show that the business purpose is reflected in the commercial register entry. For qualified trades, professional competence is also required (GewG Art. 11(1)).
As a company
Legal persons as well as general and limited partnerships need reliability, a business premises, a delivery address and the business purpose in the commercial register. They also need a managing director who actually works in a leading role at the premises, has registered signing authority and is a member of a corporate body or a permanent employee (GewG Art. 11(2) and 17). If that person lacks the professional competence, an operations manager (Betriebsleiter) is also required (Art. 18).
Reliability
Excluded are, for example, people convicted of certain offences or sentenced to more than three months in prison or more than 180 daily rates where the conviction has not been expunged, people with an unsuccessful seizure (fruchtlose Pfändung) or people subject to a professional ban. The office may grant an exemption in some cases (GewG Art. 12 and 13).
Professional competence
Qualified trades are listed in Annex 1 of the Trade Ordinance. Competence is shown with diplomas and employment references; foreign professional qualifications can be recognised (GewG Art. 3a and 15; GewV Art. 27).
Business premises
The premises must be in Liechtenstein, with rooms suited to the business purpose (GewG Art. 16). You provide a plan and a land register extract, a lease or an equivalent document (GewV Art. 25).
Step by step
01 Describe and classify the activity
Describe exactly what you will actually do. The business purpose defines the scope of your licence (GewG Art. 8). Then clarify: simple, qualified or permit trade, or a profession governed by a special law outside the Trade Act?02 Choose the legal form and check the commercial register
Sole proprietorship or company? A company is formed and registered first; a sole proprietorship depending on turnover and activity. The route via the Office of Justice is explained on Commercial register Liechtenstein.03 Set up premises and people
Rooms in Liechtenstein that suit the trade, a delivery address and, for companies, the managing director under the Trade Act. At In der Specki 3 in Schaan, a business premises is possible by agreement with a Private Office or Full Desk; the Office of Economic Affairs decides whether the rooms are suitable.04 Gather the documents
ID, criminal record and debt enforcement register extracts, proof of premises and, if needed, diplomas and references. The list below shows what the Trade Ordinance names.05 Pay the fee and file via eGewerbe
The fee is paid in advance to the Office of Finance; proof of payment is part of the application (GewV Art. 39). You file via eGewerbe with an eID.li; the former forms have been inactive since 9 September 2025.06 Review and entry in the trade register
The Office of Economic Affairs reviews without delay, at the latest within three months of receiving the complete documents. For a permit, this period can be extended once. Then follows the entry in the trade register with an extract (GewG Art. 20 and 21). The office does not state a typical processing time, so we do not promise one either.
Documents
Based on GewV Art. 25 and 26, consolidated version of 1 January 2024:
- identity card or passport; third-country nationals also their residence permit
- original criminal record extract and debt enforcement register extract, no older than three months, plus proof of no unsuccessful seizure in the last three years
- the same for the managing director and operations manager, plus the employment contract if employed
- for companies: commercial register extract and debt enforcement register extract of the company
- for the premises: plan plus land register extract, lease or equivalent document
- for qualified trades: diplomas and employment references showing professional competence
- an exact description of the business purpose and proof that the fee has been paid
The office may request further documents, originals or certified translations.
Official fees
| Procedure | Natural person | Legal person, general or limited partnership |
|---|---|---|
| Registration (simple trade) | CHF 250 | CHF 500 |
| Permit (permit trade) | CHF 500 | CHF 1,000 |
| Change of business purpose | CHF 200 | |
| Change of managing director or operations manager | CHF 200 | |
| Change of business premises | CHF 100 | |
| Change of delivery address | CHF 30 | |
| Extract from the trade register | CHF 30 | |
Source: GewV Art. 38, consolidated version of 1 January 2024. If an application is rejected or withdrawn, the fee may be reduced. Commercial register, notary or formation fees come on top depending on your route; see the incorporation cost calculator. Support from digihub.li is not included in the official fees: price on request.
After registration
Changes such as a new business purpose, a new managing director or different premises must be reported; for permit trades they need prior approval (GewV Art. 29). The business licence is personal and cannot be transferred (GewG Art. 8). Anyone who intentionally trades without a business licence risks a fine of up to CHF 20,000 (GewG Art. 44).
How we support you
The digihub.li cooperative at In der Specki 3, 9494 Schaan, supports founders and companies with their business licence. We are not a public authority and not a law firm. The Office of Economic Affairs makes the decision.
- Classify: we go through your activity with you and clarify whether a registration, a permit or another authority applies.
- Documents: you get a checklist for your case, and we check with you that the application is complete before you file it via eGewerbe.
- Premises: by agreement, In der Specki 3 can be your business premises and business address with a Private Office or Full Desk. More on Registered office and business address and Office space.
- Formation from one source: if you need a company, we also support the GmbH formation and other legal forms.
Price on request. Tell us briefly what you are planning and we will get back to you personally.
Orientation, not legal or tax advice. The Trade Act, the Trade Ordinance and the Office of Economic Affairs (info.wirtschaft@llv.li) are authoritative. Content as of 4 November 2026.
Content from digihub.li · reviewed 7 November 2026.