Business verification in Germany
VBC certifies businesses registered in Germany. Verification starts from the official record: in Germany the company register is maintained by the Handelsregister maintained by the local district court, and the entity is identified by its Handelsregister number (HRA or HRB, with the court name).
A German registration number is only meaningful together with the court that issued it, since numbering restarts per registry. The HRB prefix indicates a limited company, HRA a partnership or sole trader entered in the register.
Where a business is registered for tax, the Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (VAT ID) is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why German businesses certify
German procurement is documentation-driven and counterparties expect a commercial register extract as a matter of course. Because Handelsregister numbering restarts at each district court, a number quoted without its court means little, which trips up foreign buyers regularly.
What VBC verifies for a German business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a German business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- Handelsregisterauszug (commercial register extract)
- Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration)
- VAT identification confirmation
- Articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag)
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a German business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from German businesses
Can a business registered in Germany get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in Germany. Verification is based on records from the Handelsregister maintained by the local district court, together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a German business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a German business normally supplies: handelsregisterauszug (commercial register extract); gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration); vAT identification confirmation; articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag). The Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (VAT ID) is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the Handelsregister number (HRA or HRB, with the court name) used for in verification?
The Handelsregister number (HRA or HRB, with the court name) identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the Handelsregister maintained by the local district court. VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a German business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in Germany?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in Germany remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a German business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.