Reading time: 6 minutes
Several commercial sites mimic the official register and charge EUR 10-30 for an extract you can get free elsewhere. The official source is unternehmensregister.de (Bundesanzeiger Verlag, state-run).
Official free sources
- unternehmensregister.de - official, free company data
- handelsregister.de - the register itself
- VIES - EU VAT validation
When paid helps
Use a paid extract only when you need a certified, stamped document for a bank or court. For supplier verification, the free official register is enough.
About the Author: Arshiya Sabaghi is the founder of German Industry Hub. With an MSc in Sales Management and experience at McKinsey & Company (Industrial AI), Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and AkkoNobel, he connects international buyers with verified German manufacturers. Based in Amsterdam. Native German, English, Dutch, and Persian.