Business: templates and forms

The declaration by which a managing director of an Austrian GmbH or FlexCo resigns under § 16a of the Austrian Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbHG) — at once for good cause, otherwise after 14 days or on a later date. The same letter goes to every shareholder; the other managing directors and any supervisory board chair receive a copy. With the request to file the end of the director's authority with the company register (Firmenbuch, § 17 GmbHG) and an acknowledgement of receipt, since receipt has to be proved. In German.

A contract between a business and a self-employed freelancer in Germany — in design, copywriting, programming, consulting or media, for example — granting usage rights in the work results under the German Copyright Act (UrhG). It describes genuinely independent work, without instructions on time, place and method and without integration into the client's organisation, and covers the fee, the small-business VAT rule, the artists' social levy, confidentiality and termination. It states the risk of disguised employment plainly: the facts decide, not the label (§ 7(1) SGB IV). With a choice on the status determination under § 7a SGB IV. In German.

A template for invoices up to €400 including VAT, with the simplified particulars of § 11 Abs 6 of Austria's VAT Act (UStG 1994): the supplier's name and address, the date of issue, quantity and description of the goods or type and extent of the service, the date or period of supply, the total including tax and the tax rate. The customer, a sequential number and the UID number are not required. For small jobs and receipts a customer needs for the books, on paper or as a PDF. In German.

A contract for work for freelancers in Austria who are insured as new self-employed persons (neue Selbständige) under the GSVG with the SVS, typically without a trade licence: for a defined result such as a logo, a translation, a text or software. It covers the description of the work, independent performance, the duty to warn under § 1168a ABGB, acceptance, a fixed price or a cost estimate, rights of use and confidentiality. The page explains what sets a Werkvertrag apart from a free service contract: under § 539a ASVG, how the work is actually done decides. In German.

The notice to the regional chamber of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) that you are suspending your trade or resuming it after a suspension — due within three weeks under § 93 Abs 1 of Austria's Trade Act (GewO 1994). With the licence holder, the trade, its location, the GISA number and the effective date: what the chamber needs for an informal notice. The chamber also offers its own form and eServices free of charge; the notice needs no set form, and a letter of your own by e-mail or post is enough. In German.

The written notice surrendering a trade licence (Gewerbeberechtigung) to the trade authority — the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat where the business is located — under § 86 of the Austrian Trade Regulation Act (GewO 1994): with the GISA number, the wording of the trade, the location and the day it is to take effect. It takes effect when it arrives, unless a later day is named, and cannot be withdrawn from then on. It can also be done online through GISA with ID Austria, and some district authorities offer their own form; this letter is the informal route by post, in person or by e-mail. In German.

An invoice template for small businesses that charge no VAT, with the note on the small-business exemption under § 19 of the German VAT Act (UStG) that § 34a UStDV has required since 2025: both parties' names and addresses, tax number or VAT ID, date, invoice number, the goods or services and the total, plus payment terms and the default notice. A small business has turnover of at most €25,000 last year and at most €100,000 this year; in the year it starts trading the limit is €25,000. It may keep issuing paper and PDF invoices for good, but must still be able to receive e-invoices. In German.

An invoice template for Austrian small businesses (Kleinunternehmer) that charge no VAT: with the note on the exemption under § 6 Abs 1 Z 27 of Austria's VAT Act (UStG 1994), both parties' names and addresses, invoice number, date, the goods or services and the total. Since 1 January 2025 the exemption applies up to €55,000 gross annual turnover, with a 10 % tolerance in the current year, and small businesses may use the simplified invoice above €400 too. VAT shown by mistake is owed because of the invoice until the invoice is corrected (§ 11 Abs 12 UStG). In German.

The partnership agreement for a German civil-law partnership (Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts, GbR) under the law in force since 1 January 2024 (§§ 705 ff. of the German Civil Code, BGB, as reformed by the MoPeG), for two or three freelancers, self-employed people or a small team: name and seat, whether the GbR is entered in the partnership register as an eGbR, purpose, contributions and shares, management and representation, resolutions, profit and loss, notice, leaving, a partner's death, settlement and dissolution. No notary is needed for the agreement itself. In German.

The contract between an Austrian GmbH or FlexCo and its managing director, separate from the appointment by the shareholders: duties and standard of care (§ 25 of the Austrian Limited Liability Companies Act, GmbHG), scope of the work, gross monthly salary paid 14 or 12 times a year, variable pay, leave, competition and confidentiality, term and notice. Whether the director is insured under the ASVG or the GSVG depends not on the contract's label but on the shareholding and actual influence (§ 539a ASVG); the contract records the shareholding. Removal ends the office, not the contract (§ 16 GmbHG). In German.