Where do I register my business in Vienna?

The Vienna Trade Licensing Office (Magistratsabteilung 63) is responsible. The simplest way, though, is to register online via the Business Service Portal with ID Austria — then you do not need to go anywhere. Registration is free.

What does registering a business cost in Vienna?

Nothing — business registration is fee-free everywhere in Austria. Ongoing costs are SVS insurance (around 175 euros a month at the start, including accident insurance) and the basic fee of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.

Do I need a separate permit for Vienna?

No. Your trade licence is valid throughout Austria. You register your trade at your business location — in Vienna that means at the Magistrate or online — and you can then work anywhere.

Who can help me start a business in Vienna for free?

The Gründerservice of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce offers free advice (also in several languages). The Wirtschaftsagentur Wien offers advice, workshops, and in some cases funding for founders.

How much do you earn in Vienna, for example as a self-employed cleaner?

Self-employed cleaners in Vienna usually charge around 24 to 30 euros an hour — noticeably more than as an employee. Insurance, taxes, and travel time come out of that, though, so do not calculate too tightly.

Becoming self-employed

Becoming Self-Employed in Vienna: Your Start in the City

Vienna is the best place in Austria to start your own small business: almost two million people, thousands of households looking for help — with cleaning, gardening, care, or tutoring. Here is how to register and get off to a good start.

Last updated on 20.07.2026 · All figures as of 2026, without guarantee

Why is Vienna a good place for your own business?

Almost two million people live in Vienna — and many of them are looking for reliable help around the house, in the garden, with the kids, or for small repairs. At the same time, distances are short: with public transport you can reach your clients without a car. If you do good work, you are quickly booked out in Vienna — mostly through word of mouth from one household to the next.

Where do you register your trade in Vienna?

You have two options, both free:

Online (recommended): via the Business Service Portal (usp.gv.at) with ID Austria. Takes around 20 minutes and works from your phone.^[2]
In person: at the Vienna Trade Licensing Office (MA 63). Bring your passport or ID card, your registration confirmation (Meldezettel), and — depending on your country of origin — your residence permit.^[1]

What exactly you need and how the registration works step by step is covered in the guide Registering a business in Austria. For a free trade — for example home help for cleaners — you can start working from the day you register.

Which contact points can help you in Vienna?

Gründerservice of the WKO Vienna — free initial consultation on starting a business, also available in English and other languages.^[3]
Wirtschaftsagentur Wien — advice, workshops, and funding programmes for founders.^[4]
Business Service Portal (USP) — business registration and official processes online.
SVS customer centre Vienna — sort out social insurance questions in person.

What is different in Vienna compared to the countryside?

More demand, more competition. Good reviews and recommendations make the difference. A professional presence — your own website, quick replies, clean invoices — helps you stand out.
Higher prices. Higher hourly rates are common in Vienna than in smaller towns. Charge professional prices — going too cheap looks unprofessional.
Short distances. Plan your appointments by district, and you will lose less time travelling between clients.

Start as a side business

Many people in Vienna start alongside a part-time job. It works like this: register your trade, start small, build up regular clients — and only switch over fully once your calendar is full. Bonus: as long as your turnover and profit stay small, the micro-business exemption lowers your SVS to €12.95 a month — your job already covers your insurance anyway.

How do you get started in Vienna, concretely?

Register your trade

Online via the USP or at the MA 63 — free, as described above.
Take care of SVS and your tax number

SVS registration happens automatically along with your trade registration; you apply for your tax number at the tax office. Details: SVS explained simply.
Set your prices and become visible

Base your prices on what is typical in your trade in Vienna. Then: a Google listing, your own website, neighbourhood groups — and every good job leads to the next recommendation.

And the paperwork?

That is exactly what bop is for: the app guides you through registration, writes invoices, manages appointments by district, and explains every official letter to you — in your language. That way your time goes to your clients, not to paperwork. For the full overview on getting started: Becoming self-employed in Austria.

Frequently asked questions

: The Vienna Trade Licensing Office (Magistratsabteilung 63) is responsible. The simplest way, though, is to register online via the Business Service Portal with ID Austria — then you do not need to go anywhere. Registration is free.
: Nothing — business registration is fee-free everywhere in Austria. Ongoing costs are SVS insurance (around 175 euros a month at the start, including accident insurance) and the basic fee of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.
: No. Your trade licence is valid throughout Austria. You register your trade at your business location — in Vienna that means at the Magistrate or online — and you can then work anywhere.
: The Gründerservice of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce offers free advice (also in several languages). The Wirtschaftsagentur Wien offers advice, workshops, and in some cases funding for founders.
: Self-employed cleaners in Vienna usually charge around 24 to 30 euros an hour — noticeably more than as an employee. Insurance, taxes, and travel time come out of that, though, so do not calculate too tightly.

Sources

Official information, retrieved on 20.07.2026:

Stadt Wien: Gewerbeanmeldung (MA 63) — Official process, documents, contact
USP: Gewerbeanmeldung Einzelunternehmen — Online registration with ID Austria
WKO Gründerservice — Free start-up advice from the Chamber of Commerce
Wirtschaftsagentur Wien — Advice, workshops, and funding from the City of Vienna

This article was partly researched, translated and written with the help of language models (AI). We check the content carefully, but errors can still slip in — please cross-check important details with the official sources linked above.

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Keep reading

Becoming self-employed

Becoming Self-Employed in Vienna: Your Start in the City

Why is Vienna a good place for your own business?

Where do you register your trade in Vienna?

Which contact points can help you in Vienna?

What is different in Vienna compared to the countryside?

How do you get started in Vienna, concretely?

Register your trade

Take care of SVS and your tax number

Set your prices and become visible

And the paperwork?

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Ready to lose the paperwork?

Keep reading

Becoming Self-Employed in Austria: How to Start in 2026

Registering a Business in Austria: Free and in 20 Minutes

Becoming a Self-Employed Cleaner: How to Do It Right