Business Location Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion

In their position as one of the region's leading centers of information and advisory support, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHK ) within the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion seek to set the best possible stage for the foundation of new companies.

The Chambers of Commerce provide advice on entering self-employment, information and consulting on all aspects of starting a business, and assistance in developing business plans, among other services. Furthermore, they offer opinions on how goods should be differentiated with respect to their inner-city relevance, support inner city, urban and regional marketing efforts, and support the tradition of retail businesses in the inner city.

In addition, the IHK is the right point of contact in the field of training and vocational advancement.

Along with rendering statements on current and fundamental topics, the IHK informs about the latest developments and regulations (concerning mandatory bottle deposits, for instance).

The IHK also gathers information for companies seeking to import or export goods or learn more about investment locations abroad. Meanwhile, the competence center Baden-Württemberg International carries out the state's market development measures both in Germany and around the world while encouraging the participation of company groups in foreign business conventions. The foreign trade portal iXPOS also provides access to all of the services Germany's ministries, chambers, state associations, and similar organizations offer to promote the German economy's exports and overall trade abroad.

The IHK's further responsibilities include supplying information and advice on questions of competition law concerning advertising and special sales, as well as on issues related to trade, corporate, tax, and business law. The IHK is also an optimal source of facts and figures in a wide variety of areas (such as price trends and profit situations).

Take advantage of the comprehensive services provided by the IHK's helpful employees, who will be happy to inform you about many individual aspects of your business – including customer retention, EC card fees, store opening hours, and how to handle instances of shoplifting. You can also obtain details on the special preconditions and responsible entities involved in the granting of permits and additional monitoring in sectors that require such measures.

At a glance

Karlsruhe's Chamber of Crafts (HWK)

The skilled crafts sector in the Middle Upper Rhine and Northern Black Forest regions counts among one of the largest economic branches in Germany. As this sector's self-administrative body, the Karlsruhe Chamber of Crafts (HWK) represents the interests of local tradespeople and performs numerous regulatory tasks. These include keeping the official register of local tradespeople and apprentices, monitoring training and assessment processes, appointing authorized experts, and providing expert opinions and qualification certificates. Meanwhile, the chamber's two branch offices in Baden-Baden and Pforzheim put it in an excellent position to offer its services throughout the area. 

Representing the interests of the skilled crafts industry

The HWK seeks to support the output of companies in the skilled crafts sector and aid tradespeople in developing successful careers.

Providing consulting services free of charge

The chamber offers its members practical expert advice according to their particular needs. Its service portfolio spans all areas of everyday business operations, from labor law to environmental issues.

Vocational Training: innovative and successful

Training and ongoing vocational development is another area in which the HWK stands ready to provide advice and support to companies, employees, and apprentices, as well as to young people and their parents. To learn more, please visit the website of the HWK's vocational education academy.

At a glance

• Represents the interests of the skilled crafts industry
• Provides free consulting to its members 
• Serves as a contact point for all entities involved in training and ongoing vocational advancement (entrepreneurs, employees, apprentices, young people, and parents)

ServiceZentrum of the Karlsruhe Chamber of Crafts

The HWK's service center can be found in the entrance area of the chamber's facilities in Karlsruhe. It is meant to serve as a central point of contact capable of leveraging the HWK's entire portfolio to address any industry issue. The center renders basic services in all of the chamber's departments in a fast, straightforward manner.

Meanwhile, the center's offerings are further supplemented by those of the Starter Center. Here, entrepreneurs can fill out all the forms required (by the HWK, the local trade office, the fiscal authorities, and the respective trade association, for instance) to start a business with the help of an advisor. This greatly simplifies the process of registering a new business.

Service overview:

• General advice and information on laws pertaining to the skilled crafts sector
• Information from the official register of local tradespeople
• Answers to questions about ongoing training offered by the HWK's vocational academy
• Consulting for start-ups and for succession issues
• Assistance in securing public financial aid
• Basic information on the region's company marketplace
• Information on authorized experts, guilds, and guild chairpersons
• Information on apprenticeships within the HWK's purview
• Assistance in registering at the Starter Center