Why do so many skilled tradespeople work cash-in-hand?
Because the legal path seems complicated: which trade is the right one, do you need an exam for it, what if you have no Austrian diploma? Add a language barrier on top, plus worries that registration and insurance will not add up financially. So it stays cash, no invoice. The problem: you carry all the risk alone. No pension, no sick pay, no accident cover — and an administrative fine of up to €3,600 if there is an inspection.[1]
What do you actually lose by working cash-in-hand?
- Pension: every year without registering is a year missing from your pension — forever.
- Accident cover: a fall from a ladder or an injury from a tool — without insurance, you pay for treatment and lost income yourself.
- Tools and equipment: during an inspection by the Finanzpolizei, work equipment can be seized.
- Growth: without an invoice, there is no advertising, no website, no higher prices. You stay invisible and replaceable.
- Peace of mind: the fear of the Finanzpolizei is always there in the background.
How do you find the right trade for your activity?
Many trade-related activities — for example furniture assembly, simple electrical installations, or gutter cleaning — are free trades with no exam. Classic craft trades such as carpenter, painter, or electrician are regulated, but even there, pure practical experience counts through the individual proof of qualification if you lack an Austrian diploma.[3] The full overview with every path: Becoming a self-employed tradesperson.
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Clarify the right trade
Free advice from the Chamber of Commerce clarifies whether your activity is a free trade or needs proof of qualification. -
Register your trade
Free, online via the Unternehmensserviceportal or at the authority — step-by-step guide. From this point on, you work legally. -
SVS coverage starts automatically
With registration, you are covered for health, accident, and pension insurance. Around €161/month in the first year — what you get for that. -
Write invoices
A clean invoice after every job — as a small business, usually without VAT. Your customers keep paying a fair price, just officially now.
Do the honest math once
What about customers — do they even want this?
Mostly, yes. Many households would love a registered tradesperson who provides an invoice — for warranty purposes, for their own taxes, and because it protects them in case of a dispute. With a trade licence, invoices, and a professional appearance, you become the first choice for exactly these customers, instead of having to hide with every enquiry.
Who helps you make the switch?
bop was built exactly for this: the app guides you through business registration and SVS in your language, writes your invoices, and explains every letter from an authority — so "legal" does not have to mean complicated. Sign up on the homepage with no obligation, and you will be there from the start.