German commercial register extract: order online, explained in English

A German commercial register extract (in German: Handelsregisterauszug) is the official record of a company registered in Germany: name, legal form, registered office, share capital and who may sign on the company’s behalf. The register is kept electronically by the German register courts (§ 8 HGB), and anyone may inspect it without giving a reason (§ 9 HGB). Registerpilot retrieves the document for you at a fixed price of 8.90 € per document (39.90 € for a certified paper copy) and emails it to you as a checked PDF, usually within 24 to 48 hours. If we cannot find the company, you get a full refund.

1. Choose documents
Prices in:

Total: 8.90 € Final price incl. VAT · no further costs

2. Which company?
3. Order

Note: register extracts can also be retrieved free of charge from the official portal handelsregister.de. We take care of finding the right company, retrieving, checking and delivering. If we cannot find your company, we refund the full amount.

Hands taking a printed multi-page document out of a brown envelope, a laptop on a bright desk in the background

Which documents can you order?

Is there an English version of the extract?

The register issues its extracts in German. What you receive is the original German document as a PDF, exactly as the register produces it. To understand it, use our guide How to read a German commercial register extract: it explains every section and the key German terms in English. If an authority or bank abroad needs a translation or an apostille, ask them in advance which form they accept. Translation and apostille are not part of this order.

How does it work?

Name the company → we find, retrieve and check it → PDF by email. You do not need the registration number. Company name and city are enough, we identify the right entry. If you have the number (for example "HRB 12345"), add it: it rules out mix-ups with similar names. What the number means is explained in German company registration number.

What is the extract used for?

  • Opening a bank account: proof that the company exists and who may represent it, usually the current extract (AD), often no older than a few months.
  • Notary appointments: e.g. for share sales or real estate transactions, sometimes as a certified copy.
  • Checking a business partner: who signs, is there a "Prokurist" (authorised officer), is the company in liquidation? The extract answers this officially.
  • Know-your-customer (KYC) checks by banks, payment providers and marketplaces.

Frequently asked questions

Why pay for a German commercial register extract if the official portal is free?

Retrieving extracts from the official portal handelsregister.de is free of charge, but the portal is in German and the search can be tricky. With Registerpilot you pay for the service: we identify the right company, retrieve the document fresh from the register, check it and email it to you.

Which extract does a bank usually ask for?

Banks usually ask for the current extract (AD, "aktueller Ausdruck"), which shows the register entries as of today. Many recipients only accept extracts up to a certain age, often around three months. If in doubt, ask the recipient which type and maximum age they accept.

How fast will I receive the extract?

Registerpilot usually delivers within 24 to 48 hours after your order, as a PDF by email.

Is the extract in English?

No. German register courts issue extracts in German only. You receive the original German document. Our English guide explains each section and term.

Can I order from outside Germany?

Yes. Customers from Switzerland, the EU and other countries can order. Swiss customers can pay in euros or Swiss francs. Within the EU, Registerpilot currently sells to businesses only: a valid VAT ID is required at checkout.

Do I need the registration number to order?

No. The company name and the city where it is registered are enough. If you know the registration number, for example HRB 12345, add it to rule out mix-ups with similarly named companies.

What if the company cannot be found?

Then Registerpilot refunds the full amount. Typical reasons are a differently registered name or a business that is not registered in the commercial register at all, such as sole traders who are not registered merchants.

Can I get a paper original?

Only the certified extract (amtlich beglaubigt) is a paper original. It is issued by the register court and sent by post; standard postage is included in the price of 39.90 €. All other documents are delivered as a PDF by email.

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