In short: If you drive jobs as an independent driver, you need a registered business (Gewerbe) and upload your business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) in the driver app. A Kleingewerbe is a normal Gewerbe and counts just the same. Without your own business, you can drive as part of a fleet.
Why Maxmove needs a business registration
Maxmove connects customers with drivers. As an independent driver, you are not a Maxmove employee; you drive with your own business. For marketplace jobs, Maxmove issues the customer invoice in your business's name. That is why the Maxmove terms require independent drivers to hold a valid business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) or an equivalent registration.
Where to register a business
You register a Gewerbe with the trade office (Gewerbeamt) of your city or municipality; many municipalities offer this online. Upload the confirmation you receive afterwards to Maxmove.
How to upload your registration
- Under Account type, choose Independent driver.
- Under Documents, open Business Registration. This is your Gewerbeschein or, if you are entered in the commercial register, an extract from it (Handelsregisterauszug).
- Upload the Front and the Back. The item is only complete once both pages are uploaded.
In the web dashboard, the same item is called Trade License, also with a front and a back.
Make sure the whole document is readable and its details match your profile. Without a business registration, you cannot finish onboarding as an independent driver. All other required documents are listed in Complete onboarding and document checks.
Kleingewerbe and the small-business rule
The two terms are often mixed up:
- Kleingewerbe is not a separate type of business. You register a Kleingewerbe with the Gewerbeamt like any other Gewerbe, and you upload its Gewerbeanmeldung to Maxmove the same way.
- The small-business rule (Kleinunternehmerregelung, § 19 UStG) only concerns VAT. It does not replace a business registration.
In your Tax details, under Tax treatment, choose Standard VAT, or under Exceptions, the Small-business rule (§ 19 UStG). The app states the limits: at most €25,000 turnover last year and at most €100,000 this year. With the small-business rule, invoices and credit notes that Maxmove issues in your name show no VAT and include a reference to § 19 UStG.
If your turnover through Maxmove gets close to a limit or goes over it, you get a push notification and an email. Income outside Maxmove also counts toward the limits, but Maxmove cannot see it. Once the rule no longer applies, switch to Standard VAT in your tax details.
Tax details
Your tax details are part of registering as an independent driver. The required details and proof are listed in Complete onboarding and document checks.
Without your own business: drive for a fleet
If you do not have your own business, you can join a fleet. Under Account type, choose Join a fleet. Then:
- Your personal checklist does not require your own business registration.
- Your fleet manages documents and payouts.
- Instead of a business registration, you need the fleet to accept you, or you accept its invitation.
To find a fleet, use I know my fleet with an invitation link, code or Workspace ID. Or choose Find a fleet: your profile then becomes visible to partner fleets that are looking for drivers. See Join a fleet and manage assignment status.