A practical guide to trade licences, self-employment and business in Czechia

Updated for 2026

Trade licence & OSVČ
made clear

Everything you need to start and run a trade licence (živnost) — from registration and choosing your field to taxes, insurance and doing business as a foreigner in Czechia. No bureaucratic jargon.

How to start a trade licence Trade licence catalogue
  • Under Act No. 455/1991 Coll.
  • Sources: MPO, Tax Administration, ČSSZ
  • Free and no registration

In brief

Your path to a trade licence

  1. Choose your field — unqualified, craft, regulated or licensed (concession) trades.
  2. Register the trade at the trade licensing office or online via JRF.
  3. Get your IČO and a register extract — usually within 5 business days.
  4. Pay taxes and insurance advances — and you're ready to do business.
In brief

Živnostenský list guides you through starting and running a trade licence in one place — verified procedures, current fees and deadlines without official jargon. Save hours of chasing offices and money on needless advice.

  • Processed within 5 days
  • From 800 Kč online
  • 80+ fields in the catalogue
  • Help for foreigners too
Start here

Where do you want to start?

We'll guide you through the whole process step by step — pick a topic.

How to start a trade

The notification process, JRF, documents, IČO and deadlines.

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OSVČ or s.r.o.?

Comparison of business forms — when it pays to switch.

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Types of trades

Free, craft, regulated and licensed — and 80+ fields.

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Taxes and flat-rate tax

Flat-rate tax, lump-sum expenses, returns and DPH (VAT).

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OSVČ insurance

Social and health advances, statements, main vs. secondary.

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Running a trade

Suspension, termination, data changes and premises.

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How to work as…

Courier, Bolt/Uber driver, market vendor — a guide by profession.

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Tools and calculators

Invoicing software, accounts and interactive calculators.

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Foreigners and OSVČ

Business for EU and third-country citizens, Ukraine.

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Catalogue

Find your field in the trade licence catalogue

Not sure which category your field falls into? Browse an overview of all trade types with descriptions, conditions and example activities — from unqualified to licensed.

Open the catalogue
Free trade 80fields

No professional qualification — just the general conditions.

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Craft trade 41fields

Requires an apprenticeship certificate or experience in the field.

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Regulated trade 35fields

Conditional on professional qualification.

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Licensed trade 21fields

Requires a state permit — a concession.

View fields
Trusted sources

We write based on the law and official institutions

Content is based on the Trade Licensing Act and public government sources. We update the data regularly so it matches the legislation in force for 2026.

  • Trade Licensing Actč. 455/1991 Sb.
  • MPOMinistry of Industry and Trade
  • Financial Administrationtaxes and flat-rate tax
  • ČSSZOSVČ social insurance
FAQ

Your most frequent questions

Brief answers to basic questions about trade licences and OSVČ.

“Živnostenský list” is a historical term. Today the proof of your right to do business is an extract from the Trade Register. The authorisation arises as soon as you notify the trade, not only when the extract is issued.

The administrative fee for notifying a trade is 1 000 Kč, or 800 Kč for electronic filing. Each additional trade notification costs 500 Kč.

The trade licensing office enters the entrepreneur in the register and issues the extract usually within 5 working days. The IČO is assigned almost immediately.

Yes. A self-employed person (OSVČ) pays monthly social and health insurance advances. For a main activity the legal minimum applies from the very start; for a secondary activity it depends on income.

Didn't find your answer?

Start with the detailed step-by-step guide — it walks you through the entire trade registration.

Go to the guide