Provision of services for the family and household

The unqualified (free) trade (field No. 79) for cleaning, cooking, laundry, ironing, garden care, individual care for children over 3 years, occasional short-term childminding (including children under 3 years), dog walking, shopping and other ordinary services for the family and household. It requires no professional qualification - it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act, and the licence comes into existence on the very day of notification.

Conditions for operating

Full legal capacity (usually reaching the age of 18) under Section 6(1)(a) of the Trade Licensing Act.
A clean criminal record / integrity under Section 6(1)(b) and (2) of the Trade Licensing Act - for Czech citizens the office obtains the extract from the Criminal Records itself.
Professional qualification is NOT documented - this is an unqualified (free) trade (Section 25 and Annex 4 to Act No. 455/1991 Coll.), where neither education nor practice is proven.
For foreign persons, proof of a clean criminal record / integrity by a document from the state of origin; a minor from the age of 16 may do business with the court's consent (Section 13 of the Act).

Examples of activities

regular and one-off cleaning of households and flats
cooking, laundry, ironing and the ordinary running of the household
individual care for children over three years of age in families
occasional short-term childminding (including children under three years of age)
dog walking and care for pets during the owner's absence
shopping and errands for the household (collecting medicines, deliveries)
care for the garden and the surroundings of the house (watering, minor maintenance)
watching over a flat and house during absence, watering flowers
helping seniors and persons requiring increased care with the ordinary running of the household (non-medical and non-social assistance)

What this trade is and what it is for

The trade "Provision of services for the family and household" is field No. 79 within the single unqualified (free) trade (Manufacture, trade and services not listed in Annexes 1 to 3 of the Trade Licensing Act). It falls under Section 25 and Annex 4 to Act No. 455/1991 Coll. and serves everyone who wishes to do business in ordinary services that make the running of a family and household easier.

This field covers a wide range of practical assistance: cleaning, cooking, laundry, ironing, garden care, individual care for children over three years, occasional childminding, dog walking, shopping and care for persons requiring increased care. These are activities that require no qualification or craft skills - which is why the legislator classified them among the unqualified (free) trades. For many people it is an ideal start to doing business: low costs, no examinations and a licence valid practically immediately.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

Field No. 79 typically includes:

ensuring the running of the household - cleaning, cooking, laundry, ironing (regularly as well as one-off),
individual care for children over three years of age in families,
occasional short-term childminding, including children under three years of age,
dog walking and care for pets,
shopping, errands and deliveries for the household,
care for a flat or house and the garden during the owner's absence,
care for persons requiring increased care (within the scope of ordinary assistance, not medical or social services).

What, by contrast, does not belong here - beware of the boundaries with neighbouring trades:

Care for a child under three years of age on a daily basis (all-day regular care for toddlers) is a separate regulated trade "Care for a child under three years of age on a daily basis", which requires professional qualification (e.g. the qualification of a general nurse, social worker, kindergarten teacher or the professional qualification of a childminder). Note the difference: occasional short-term childminding, even of younger children, falls under field No. 79, but regular daily care for children under three does not.
Operating a children's group is governed by special Act No. 247/2014 Coll., on the provision of childcare services in a children's group, and is not a trade.
Health and social care (nursing, care service under the Act on Social Services) does not fall under a trade at all and is governed by other regulations.
Laundry, ironing and repairs of clothing offered as a standalone service outside the running of the household fall under field No. 75, repairs of household goods under field No. 77 - these are likewise free fields (they can, however, be notified together with field No. 79).
Security of persons and premises (personal bodyguards, guards) and craft works such as bricklaying, plumbing or hairdressing are separate trades (craft trades under Annex 1, or licensed/concession trades) and qualification is documented for them.

If you are not sure how a particular activity is classified, check the content of the field directly with the Trade Licensing Office before you start invoicing.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

Since this is an unqualified (free) trade, professional qualification is not documented - you do not need any education, apprenticeship certificate or practice. It is enough to meet only the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

full legal capacity (usually reaching the age of 18; a minor from the age of 16 may do business with the court's consent under Section 13),
a clean criminal record / integrity - for Czech citizens the office obtains the extract from the Criminal Records itself.

If you yourself did not meet the conditions, or you wish to entrust the business to another person, the law allows you to appoint a responsible representative under Section 11. The same person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs. For an unqualified (free) trade, however, this is rarely necessary in practice, because no qualification is proven.

The licence comes into existence on the very day of notification (Section 10(1)(a)) - you can therefore start doing business at once; you do not have to wait for the extract.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF). In it you choose the unqualified (free) trade and tick field No. 79 (and, if you like, other fields at the same time - there is no extra charge for their number).
Submit the notification. The options are: in person at any Trade Licensing Office (central registration point), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT contact point.
Provide proof of identity (identity card). Foreigners prove a clean criminal record / integrity with a document from their country of origin.
Pay the administrative fee - CZK 1,000 for the notification, or CZK 800 electronically with a discount.
Wait for the registration. The office makes the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days of receiving the notification (Section 47).

You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

Documents: a completed URF, proof of identity; for foreigners, proof of a clean criminal record / integrity from the state of origin.
Professional qualification: not documented (unqualified/free trade).
Fee for the notification: CZK 1,000, electronically CZK 800.
Adding another field of the unqualified (free) trade: free of charge (CZK 0).
Registration deadline: within 5 working days of the notification.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need any education for cleaning or childminding?

No. This is an unqualified (free) trade, where professional qualification is not documented. The general conditions under Section 6 are enough - legal capacity and a clean criminal record / integrity. The office requires no course or certificate.

Can I also mind children under 3 years?

Yes, but only occasionally and short-term - occasional short-term childminding, including children under three years of age, belongs to field No. 79. What does not belong here is regular care for a child under three on a daily basis (all-day everyday care) - that is a separate regulated trade with compulsory professional qualification. Regular (not merely occasional) care can be provided within field No. 79 to children over three years of age.

When can I start doing business?

At once. For an unqualified (free) trade the licence comes into existence on the day of notification (Section 10). You receive the extract from the Trade Register within 5 working days, but you can invoice from the notification.

How much will the notification cost me?

The administrative fee is CZK 1,000, or CZK 800 for an electronic submission. If you add other fields of the unqualified (free) trade to field No. 79, you still pay only one fee.

Do I need a responsible representative?

For an unqualified (free) trade, usually not, because no qualification is proven. You appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 only if you do not meet the conditions yourself or wish to entrust the business to another person. One person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.