What does the statistics of business notifications describe?
Since 1996, the statistics of business notifications have provided monthly information on the number of business registrations and deregistrations by economic sector, legal form, number of employees, and Länder. Also, the sex and citizenship of the business persons are covered. Registrations and deregistrations are broken down by the underlying reasons. Possible reasons for a registration are the start-up of a business, its moving in from another registration district, a merger or demerger, a modification of the legal form, partners entering the business, and a business take-over. Possible reasons for a deregistration are the shutting down of a business, its moving to another district, the shutting down in connection with a merger or demerger, withdrawals of partners, change of the legal form, and the business being handed over to a successor. On the one hand, the statistics of business notifications provide information on the whole of the business notification activities and, on the other, give a statistical picture of start-ups and close-downs of enterprises and establishments. The legal framework for business notifications and the relevant statistics is provided by the German Industrial Code (GewO). The quarterly press release on the statistics of business notifications provides information, inter alia, on start-ups of businesses whose legal form and number of employees suggest that they will have some economic importance. This refers to the setting up of businesses (main establishments, subsidiaries and dependent branches) by legal persons, companies without legal personality (partnerships) or natural persons. A natural person registering a main establishment must be included in the Trade Register or hold a craftsmen’s card or employ at least one person. Data on shut-downs of businesses are presented analogously.
How is the statistics of business notifications produced?
n the Industrial Code, the obligation of notification is laid down for businesses with a fixed location. The businesses have to comply with that obligation by returning the relevant notification form to the competent authorities; there are three different forms, i.e. for business registration, business modification, and business deregistration. Copies of the registrations and deregistrations, either in electronic or paper form, are evaluated by the statistical offices of the Länder. The Federal Statistical Office combines the Länder results to form the federal result.
When are the results released?
he monthly results are available online about two months after the end of the reference month. Quarterly information is published in the form of a press release. Quarterly and annual results are also published in the form of a Fachserie. The release calendar and the results are also available from the website of the Federal Statistical Office.
How accurate are the results?
It is laid down in the Industrial Code that the competent authorities have to be notified of starting up and closing down a business as well as of any changes in the business. With the exception of business modifications, all notifications are evaluated by the statistical offices of the Länder. Branches that are not subject to the Industrial Code - and therefore are not covered by the statistics - are the liberal professions, primary production such as agriculture, forestry and mining, as well as insurance. Although the reasons for notifications have to be indicated in detail, it is not possible to verify statistically whether the matters indicated are real or just intentions. Also, the economic value of the reporting businesses can only be approximated.
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