Joinery and flooring

Joinery and flooring is a craft trade (field No. 19 in Annex 1) covering joinery work, the manufacture of furniture and wooden products, and the laying and finishing of floors. It requires meeting the general conditions under Sections 6 and 8 and documenting a professional qualification under Section 7 in conjunction with Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record.
The entrepreneur must not be subject to any obstacles to carrying on the trade under Section 8 (in particular ongoing insolvency or a ban on the activity imposed by a court or administrative authority).
Professional qualification under Section 7 in conjunction with Section 21 or Section 22 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll. (one of the following options):
- secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field;
- secondary education with a school-leaving examination (maturita) in the relevant field;
- higher professional education in the relevant field;
- university education in the relevant area of study programmes and fields of study;
- a certificate of recognition of professional qualification issued by the recognising authority;
- a certificate of verification or recognition of a full qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.
As a substitute, under Section 22 (always with practice):
- education in a related field + 1 year of practice in the field;
- retraining + 1 year of practice in the field;
- 6 years of practice in the field without a certificate of education.
The qualification may also be documented through a responsible representative under Section 11.
Medical fitness and liability insurance are not required.

Examples of activities

manufacture of bespoke furniture
laying of wooden and laminate floors
manufacture and installation of windows and doors
renovation and sanding of parquet floors
manufacture of staircases and door frames
installation of fitted wardrobes and panelling
varnishing and finishing of wooden surfaces
manufacture of wooden structural elements

What this trade is and what it is for

The trade Joinery and flooring is a craft trade listed in Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act under field No. 19. It entitles you to do business in the processing of wood and wood-based materials, the manufacture of furniture and wooden products, and the laying and finishing of floor coverings. It is one of the classic manual professions for which, in order to protect the consumer, the law requires documentation of a professional qualification.

Under this licence you may manufacture, install, repair and renovate joinery products and carry out complete flooring work for customers, primarily in interiors, or possibly outdoors (for example wooden decking and exterior cladding).

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade covers in particular joinery and flooring activities: the manufacture of bespoke furniture, the manufacture and installation of windows, doors, door frames, staircases, panelling and fitted wardrobes, the manufacture of wooden structural elements, the laying and renovation of wooden, laminate, vinyl and parquet floors, the sanding and varnishing of floors and the installation of skirting boards.

It is useful to know the boundaries with neighbouring trades:

Carrying out constructions, their alterations and removal (a regulated trade) — where this concerns load-bearing roof-truss structures and structural carpentry work on a building, it falls rather under carpentry and the construction trade, not under joinery.
Flooring as part of a construction — the mere laying of floor coverings belongs here, but laying base concrete layers and screeds is a bricklaying (construction) activity.
Manufacture of furniture from other materials — upholstering furniture is a separate craft field (Upholstery).

If you are unsure how to classify a particular activity, we recommend asking the Trade Licensing Office directly.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

The applicant must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. At the same time, there must be no obstacles to carrying on the trade under Section 8 (in particular ongoing insolvency or a ban on the activity imposed by a court or administrative authority). Medical fitness and liability insurance are not required for this trade.

Because it is a craft trade, a professional qualification must be documented under Section 7 in conjunction with Section 21, or Section 22, of Act No. 455/1991 Coll. You prove the qualification with one of the following options:

Under Section 21:

secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field,
secondary education with a school-leaving examination in the relevant field,
higher professional education in the relevant field,
university education in the relevant area of study programmes and fields of study,
a certificate of recognition of professional qualification issued by the recognising authority,
a certificate of verification or recognition of a full qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

As a substitute, under Section 22 (always in combination with practice):

education in a related field + 1 year of practice in the field,
retraining + 1 year of practice in the field,
or 6 years of practice in the field without a certificate of education.

If you do not meet the qualification yourself, you may document it through a responsible representative under Section 11, who must meet both the general and professional conditions and be in a contractual relationship with the entrepreneur. A single person may act as a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify the trade step by step

Complete the Unified Registration Form (JRF) to notify the trade.
Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Submit the documents on professional qualification and identity and pay the administrative fee.
Await the entry — the office will enter you in the Trade Register within 5 working days of delivery of the notification.

The trade licence arises as early as the day of notification (provided the conditions are met), not only upon entry. A detailed procedure can be found in our guide How to set up a trade.

Documents and fees

A completed Unified Registration Form (JRF).
Proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving examination, diploma, proof of practice, retraining, etc.).
Proof of identity (identity card / passport).
An administrative fee of CZK 1,000 for first notification, CZK 800 for electronic submission.
Where applicable, documents relating to the responsible representative, if you appoint one.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an apprenticeship certificate, or is practice sufficient?

An apprenticeship certificate is not a condition. The qualification can also be documented with a school-leaving examination or diploma in the field, education in a related field with one year of practice in the field, retraining with one year of practice in the field, or 6 years of practice in the field on its own.

Can I do business without my own qualification?

Yes, if you appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets both the general and professional conditions.

When can I start doing business?

The licence arises on the day of notification, provided you meet all the conditions. The office makes the entry in the register within 5 working days.

Does this cover both the manufacture and the laying of floors at the same time?

Yes, field No. 19 covers both joinery work and flooring, so it covers the manufacture of furniture, wooden structures and the laying and renovation of floors.

Is a health certificate or insurance required?

No. For this trade, the law requires neither medical fitness nor liability insurance.