Manufacture of non-electrical household appliances

An unqualified (free) trade (field No. 30) for the manufacture of non-electrical appliances, utensils and goods for the household. It does not require professional qualification - it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 and to notify the trade. The licence arises on the day of notification.

Conditions for operating

Full legal capacity (Section 6(1)(a) of the Trade Licensing Act).
Clean criminal record (Section 6(1)(b) and Section 6(2) of the Trade Licensing Act).
Professional qualification is NOT required - this is an unqualified (free) trade (Annex No. 4 to the TLA).
The option (not the obligation) to appoint a responsible representative - a natural person meeting the general conditions under Section 6 (Section 11 of the TLA).

Examples of activities

manufacture of kitchen utensils (pots, pans, bowls)
manufacture of non-electrical household appliances (manual mills, graters, presses)
manufacture of metal and plastic household goods
manufacture of non-electrical heaters, stoves and grills for solid or gaseous fuels
manufacture of hand-operated kitchen utensils and cutlery
manufacture of non-electrical heating and cooling appliances for the household
manufacture of cleaning and household aids (washtubs, ironing boards, drying racks)

What the trade is and what it is for

The trade Manufacture of non-electrical household appliances is field No. 30 of the single unqualified (free) trade (Annex No. 4 to Trade Licensing Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). It entitles you to manufacture appliances, tools, utensils and goods used in the household that do not use electrical energy to function.

This usually includes the manufacture of mechanically operated objects and appliances made of metal, plastic, glass, ceramics or wood, as well as their completion from finished parts. Because this is an unqualified (free) trade, to operate it you do not have to prove any education or experience - it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 and to notify the trade. The trade licence arises as early as the day of notification (Section 10(1)(a) of the TLA).

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

Field No. 30 covers in particular:

manufacture of kitchen utensils and implements (pots, pans, bowls, cutlery, graters, mills),
manufacture of non-electrical appliances (manual presses, juicers, whisks, mechanical slicers),
manufacture of non-electrical heating, cooking, grilling and cooling appliances for the household (stoves and grills for solid or gaseous fuels, non-electrical heaters),
manufacture of other household and cleaning goods (washtubs, drying racks, ironing boards, hangers).

The boundaries with neighbouring trades must be watched:

As soon as an appliance contains electrical components (a motor, a heating element, electronics), it does not fall under this field but under field No. 29 "Manufacture of electronic components, electrical equipment and the manufacture and repair of electrical machines, instruments and electronic equipment operating at low voltage" (also a free trade).
Metalworking, metal machining and machine locksmithing as a craft activity fall under separate craft trades; field No. 30 covers the manufacture of finished non-electrical products for the household.
Repairs of electrical appliances or the installation of gas equipment may be a craft or regulated trade and require their own licence.

When manufacturing you must always comply with technical and safety regulations (e.g. the Act on technical requirements for products and conformity assessment), even though you do not prove qualification for the trade itself.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the licence

Because this is an unqualified (free) trade, it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

full legal capacity (Section 6(1)(a)) - majority, or a court's consent to the authorisation of a minor's legal representative,
a clean criminal record (Section 6(1)(b) and Section 6(2)) - proved by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office requests itself.

Professional qualification is not required for this trade - you do not have to submit any apprenticeship certificate, diploma or proof of experience. This is the main advantage of the free trade over craft, regulated or licensed (concession) trades.

Responsible representative (Section 11): If you yourself did not meet the general conditions, or if a legal entity does business, a responsible representative may be appointed. They are always a natural person appointed by the entrepreneur, who is responsible to the entrepreneur for the proper operation of the trade. For the free trade no professional qualification is required of the responsible representative, but they must meet the general conditions under Section 6. For the free trade, the appointment of a responsible representative is voluntary.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) - a single form for the notification of the trade, which also serves to register for income tax, with the social security administration and with the health insurance company.
Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office (a public administration contact point), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or in person via Czech POINT (Section 45 of the TLA).
Choose field No. 30 "Manufacture of non-electrical household appliances" within the free trade. You may notify several fields at once for a single fee.
Pay the administrative fee - CZK 1,000 for notification at the office, CZK 800 for electronic submission.
Wait for the entry - the office makes the entry in the Trade Register and issues an extract usually within 5 working days of notification (Section 47 of the TLA). The licence, however, arises as early as the day of notification, so you can do business immediately.

You will find the detailed procedure in the guide Jak založit živnost.

Documents and fees

Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
Completed URF (also possible electronically).
Proof of payment of the administrative fee (if it is not enclosed automatically).
No documents on qualification - they are not required for the free trade.
Where applicable, documents relating to the responsible representative, if you use this option or if a legal entity does business.
Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 for notification (CZK 800 electronically).
Adding a further field of the free trade is free of charge (CZK 0).
Entry time limit: within 5 working days.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an apprenticeship or experience in the field?

No. This is an unqualified (free) trade, for which professional qualification is not proved. It is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 (legal capacity and a clean criminal record).

Can I also manufacture electrical appliances under the same licence?

No. Products with electrical components fall under a different field of the free trade (field No. 29). You can, however, notify it additionally and free of charge.

How much will I pay and how soon can I start?

Notification costs CZK 1,000, or CZK 800 electronically. You may do business as early as the day of notification; the office makes the entry in the register within 5 working days.

Do I have to comply with any technical standards?

Yes. Although you do not prove qualification, your products must meet technical and safety regulations (e.g. conformity assessment for designated products). That is, however, a separate obligation outside the Trade Licensing Act.

Can I notify several fields of the free trade at once?

Yes. The free trade is a single trade and has 80 fields of activity; you can notify any number of fields for a single administrative fee.