A Czech trade license allows you to work as a freelancer or self-employed person in the Czech Republic. Your legal business name will be your full name, but you're free to use a different brand name and logo.
With this license, you receive a business ID number (IČO – 8-digit number) and a VAT number if your business requires it. You can legally hire employees and operate your business both in the Czech Republic and internationally.
You’re allowed to invoice clients worldwide. If needed, you can temporarily pause or fully cancel your trade license without permanently closing your business.
Czech Trade License Activities
To legally run your business under a Czech trade license, you need to register at least one business activity under your Czech Trade license. There are two main types of activities:
Free Trade License Activities
Free trade license activities don’t require any diplomas, certificates, or formal qualifications. These are ideal for freelancers and service-based businesses.
Common free activities include:
Graphic design
IT and software development
Marketing and consulting
Content creation and social media management
You can register multiple activities under one Czech trade license, which gives you flexibility if your work covers different areas.
When applying, it’s important to choose the business activities that match what you actually do. This ensures your trade license in the Czech Republic fully covers your services. When you register your trade license, pick the activities that match what you plan to do.
You can check the list of free Czech trade license business activities below.
business activities
1. Provision of services for agriculture, horticulture, fishing, forestry and hunting 2. Professional forest management 3. Production of forest management plans and outlines 4. Handling of the reproductive material of forestry plants 5. Animal breeding and training (with the exception of animal production) 6. Treatment of minerals, extraction of peat and mud 7. Manufacture of food and starch products 8. Fruit distillation 9. Manufacture of feed, compound feed, additives and premixtures 10. Manufacture of textiles, textile products, clothing and clothing accessories 11. Manufacture and repair of footwear, saddlery and harness products 12. Wood processing, manufacture of wooden, cork, straw and plaiting products 13. Manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard and of goods made of those materials 14. Publishing, printing, binding and copying 15. Manufacture, reproduction, distribution, sale, rental of audio and audiovisual recordings, and manufacture of blank data and recording carriers 16. Manufacture of coke, raw pitch and other solid fuels 17. Manufacture of chemical substances, fibres and preparations, and cosmetic products 18. Manufacture of fertilizers 19. Manufacture of plastic and rubber products 20. Glass manufacture and processing 21. Manufacture of building materials, porcelain, ceramic and plaster products 22. Manufacture of abrasive products and other non-metallic mineral products 23. Technical and jewellery stone cutting 24. Production of iron, precious metals, non-ferrous metals and their alloys 25. Manufacture of metal structures and fabricated metal products 26. Artistic and craft working of metals 27. Surface treatment and welding of metals and other materials 28.Manufacture of measuring, testing, navigation, optical and photographic instruments and equipment 29. Manufacture of electronic components, electrical equipment, and the manufacture and repair of electrical machinery, appliances and electronic equipment powered by low voltage 30. Manufacture of non-electric domestic appliances 31. Manufacture of industrial machinerytheir 32. Manufacture of motor vehicles and trailers and bodies 33. Design and manufacture of vessels 34. Manufacture, development, design, testing, installation, maintenance, repair, modification and structural changes to aircraft, aircraft engines, blades, aircraft parts and equipment and aviation ground facilities 35. Manufacture of rail traction units and rail vehicles on tramways trolley-bus tracks and cableways, and railway fleets 36. Manufacture of bicycles, wheelchairs and other non-motor vehicles 37. Manufacture and repair of upholstered products 38. Manufacture, repair and maintenance of sport products, games, toys and prams and pushchairs 39. Manufacture of medical devices 40. Manufacture and repair of sources of ionizing radiation 41. Manufacture of school and office equipment, except paper products, the manufacture of costume jewellery, brooms and brushes, made-up articles, umbrellas, souvenirs 42. Manufacture of other manufacturing articles 43. Operation of water supply and wastewater services, and water treatment and distribution 44. Waste management (except dangerous waste) 45. Preparatory and finishing work, specialized construction activities 46. Glazing, framing and mounting 47. Intermediation in trade and services (Import / Export) 48. Wholesale and retail trade (Shop, online sales) 49. Pawnbroking and retailing in second-hand goods 50. Maintenance of motor vehicles and accessories 51. Transport via pipelines and land transport (except rail and road motor transport) 52. Storage, packaging of goods, cargo handling and technical activities in transport 53. Forwarding and representation in customs procedure 54. Operation of postal and international postal services 55. Accommodation services (Hostel, Pension, Hotel) 56. Provision of software, information technology consulting, data processing, hosting and related activities and web portals (Programmers) 57. Activities of information and news agencies 58. Real estate services, facility management and maintenance (Real Estate) 59. Leasing and loaning of movables 60. Guidance and consulting activities, production of expert studies and opinions (Consultants) 61. Land consolidation design 62. Preparation and production of technical designs, graphic and drawing work 63. Design of electrical equipment 64. Research and development in the field of natural and technical sciences or social sciences 65. Testing, measurement, analysis and inspections 66. Advertising, marketing, media representation (Advertising for 3rd parties) 67. Design and arrangement activities and modelling 68. Photographic services 69. Translation and interpreting 70. Administrative services and services of an organizational and economic nature 71. Operation of a travel agency and guide services in the field of tourism 72. Extra-curricular education, organization of courses, training, including instructor services (Language teachers) 73. Operation of cultural, educational and entertainment facilities, organization of cultural productions, events, exhibitions, fairs, festivals, sales and similar events 74. Operation of physical education and sports facilities and organization of sports activities 75. Domestic washing, ironing, repair and maintenance of clothing, household linen and personal goods 76. Provision of technical services 77. Repair and maintenance of household goods, items of a cultural nature, precision equipment, optical equipment and measuring devices 78. Provision of personal and personal hygiene services 79. Provision of services for the family and households
80. Provision of services for legal entities and trust funds
81. Activities connected to the cryptocurrency and virtual assets
82. Manufacture, trade and services not elsewhere specified
Czech Trade License Requirements
To register a Czech trade license, you need to meet these conditions:
Business Address: You must have a registered address in the Czech Republic.
No Criminal History: You can’t have a criminal history related to business or other offenses.
Age: You must be over 18 years old.
Visa: Non-EU citizens need a valid Czech visas.
