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

Business premises · § 17

Business premises: notify and label them correctly

Business premises (provozovna) are the space where you actually carry on your trade — a shop, workshop, office or stall. Fixed (brick-and-mortar) premises must be notified in advance to the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad), and marked permanently on the outside with your name or company name and IČO (business ID). Mobile premises (a stall) do not have to be notified in advance, but you must label them as well.

notification 0 Kč in advance to the trade office (§ 17) name/company + IČO responsible person
How to label business premises Changing and closing premises

What business premises are under § 17

Under § 17(1) of the Trade Licensing Act (No. 455/1991 Coll.), business premises are the space in which a trade is carried on. This includes a shop, workshop, office, warehouse or vending machine — and also mobile premises, i.e. a movable stall, cart or mobile shop.

Mobile premises (§ 17(2)) are premises that are movable and are not located in one place for more than three months. If you stay in one place for longer, it already counts as classic (fixed) premises with all the obligations, including prior notification.

Three basic obligations apply to fixed premises: notify them in advance to the office, mark them visibly, and appoint a person responsible for their operation. Let us go through them step by step.

What to arrange for your business premises

  1. Notify the trade licensing office in advance that you are opening premises § 17(3) — you submit the notification using a change form / the Single Registration Form (JRF) in person, via a data box (datová schránka), or online through rzp.gov.cz; registering the premises is free (0 Kč). Likewise, notify the closing of operations at the premises in advance. → detail
  2. Document your legal grounds for using the space ownership, a lease agreement or the owner's consent — the office may require this (§ 17(3) / § 31(2)).
  3. Mark the premises on the outside with your name or company name and IČO § 17(7) — permanently and visibly from the outside: with the business (company) name or the entrepreneur's first name and surname and the identification number (IČO).
  4. Appoint a person responsible for the operation of the premises § 17(4) — for every premises (vending machines are the only exception).
  5. For sales to consumers, add the mandatory consumer details § 17(8) — the first name and surname of the responsible person, the selling or operating hours for dealing with consumers, and for accommodation facilities also the category and class.

What must be on the premises sign

Marking the premises is one of the most frequently inspected obligations. The law distinguishes between basic marking (which applies to every premises) and extended marking for consumers (premises intended for the sale of goods or the provision of services to consumers).

Basics — § 17(7) (every premises, permanently and visibly from the outside):

  • the business (company) name or the entrepreneur's first name and surname,
  • the identification number (IČO).

In addition for consumers — § 17(8):

  • the first name and surname of the person responsible for the operation of the premises,
  • the selling or operating hours designated for dealing with consumers,
  • for accommodation facilities also the category and class.

You must keep the premises marked even when the trade is suspended or the premises are temporarily closed — in that case you must state visibly for consumers the start and end dates of the temporary closure.

Mobile premises (a stall) are not notified in advance

A stall, sales cart, market table or food truck are mobile premises (§ 17(2)). The exception in § 17(3) means that vending machines and mobile premises are not notified to the trade licensing office in advance — unlike fixed premises. Even so, at the office's request you must prove that the location is lawful (lease, municipal permit, contract with the market organiser), mark the stall with your name/company name, IČO, and for sales to consumers also with the selling hours and the name of the responsible person. You will find details about markets in the guide stall and market sales.

Business premises vs. registered seat — and real estate tax

The registered seat (sídlo) is the entrepreneur's official address recorded in the register, where official mail is delivered. Business premises are the place where you actually do business — and the seat and the premises may, but need not, be the same. Watch out for the tax connection: if you actually use a property (or part of it) for business, it may be subject to a higher rate of real estate tax for spaces used for business. Verify the specific classification and rate with your tax office. You handle changes to both the seat and the premises in changes of details.

Report changes to premises within 15 days

Notify the opening of new premises and the closing of operations there in advance; other changes to recorded details generally within 15 days of their occurrence (§ 49). The office usually makes the entry in the register within 5 working days. The notification and registration of premises are free of charge (0 Kč, Act No. 634/2004 Coll.). Verified 2026.

Frequently asked questions about business premises

What must be on the premises sign?
Every premises must be permanently and visibly marked from the outside with the business (company) name or the entrepreneur's first name and surname and the identification number (IČO) — § 17(7). If you sell goods or provide services to consumers, additionally add the first name and surname of the person responsible for the premises and the selling or operating hours (§ 17(8)); for accommodation facilities also the category and class.
Do I have to notify the premises to the trade licensing office in advance?
For fixed premises, yes — you notify both the start and the end of operations at the premises in advance (§ 17(3)). You submit the notification using a change form or the Single Registration Form (JRF) in person, via a data box (datová schránka), or online at rzp.gov.cz, and it is free. An exception applies to vending machines and mobile premises, which are not notified in advance.
What is the difference between fixed and mobile premises?
Mobile premises (a stall, cart, food truck) are movable and do not stay in one place for more than three months (§ 17(2)). Unlike fixed premises, they are not notified to the office in advance. If you were to stay in one place for more than three months, it already counts as classic premises with all the obligations, including prior notification.
Who is the person responsible for the premises?
For every premises you must appoint a person responsible for its operation (§ 17(4)) — this can also be the entrepreneur themselves. An exception applies only to vending machines. For premises serving consumers, this person's first name and surname is additionally shown directly on the premises marking (§ 17(8)). Do not confuse this person with the responsible representative under § 11, who substitutes for the professional qualification in craft, regulated (vázaná) and permit (concession) trades.
How much does notifying premises cost?
Notifying and registering premises in the trade register is without an administrative fee — 0 Kč (Act No. 634/2004 Coll., verified 2026). This applies to both the start and the end of operations at the premises.
Must the premises be marked even during a suspension of the trade?
Yes. The premises must be marked even while the trade is suspended or the premises are temporarily closed. In that case you must state visibly for consumers the start and end dates of the temporary closure.

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Where to notify premises in person

Any municipal trade licensing office in the Czech Republic will accept the notification of premises. Find the nearest one.

Directory of trade licensing offices