Business Premises: How to Set Them Up, Label Them, and What Regulations Must Be Followed?

Quick Overview

You need a business premises if you operate a business at a specific location where customers come, where you sell goods, manufacture products, or provide services. Typically, this includes a store, restaurant, salon, medical office, workshop, or auto repair shop. You must register your business premises with the trade licensing office, properly label them with the business owner’s name and ID number, and—for certain types of businesses—meet hygiene, building, and fire safety requirements and arrange for waste disposal. If you operate solely online, in the field, or at clients’ homes, you generally do not need to have a business premises.

Before opening your business premises, be sure to verify the following:

Not sure if your space meets all the requirements for a business location, or are you just starting a company? We’ll help you set up your business the right way from the start—from incorporating a limited liability company (s.r.o.) to reviewing contracts, your registered office, and your obligations to government agencies.

Business Premises vs. Registered Office vs. Place of Business

The Trade Licensing Act defines a place of business as “thespace in which a trade is conducted.” A place of business is therefore a specific location where business activities take place. This could be, for example, an office, retail space, or workshop. An entrepreneur may have several places of business, and in many cases, may not have any at all.

On the other hand, every entrepreneur must have a registered office. This is the address at which the entrepreneur (a legal entity or a self-employed individual) is registered in the Commercial Register or the Trade License Register. It is, therefore, the address where the entrepreneur has their main administrative headquarters. The registered office also serves as the official mailing address for communication with government agencies (e.g., the tax authority or the trade licensing office). Every entrepreneur has only one registered office.

The registered office can be virtually any address. It may be the entrepreneur’s permanent residence or a business location. The registered office can also be virtual— that is, an address provided for a fee that serves multiple business entities.

“Place of business” is an outdated legal term that was formerly used to refer to the registered office of self-employed individuals (OSVČ). Nowadays, however, only the single term “registered office” is used. In practice, though, the term “place of business” is still encountered.

Requirements for a Company’s Registered Office

The company’s registered office must be located within the Czech Republic; it must be clearly defined and traceable, and the company must be visibly identified at that location. You must also prove that you have ownership or the right to use (with the landlord’s consent) the property where the company has its registered office.

Requirements for the Registered Office of a Self-Employed Person

The registered office of a self-employed person must ensure the ability to communicate with government agencies and receive correspondence. If a self-employed person’s registered office is located at an address other than their permanent residence, they must prove their right of ownership or use of the property (e.g., by providing an extract from the real estate cadastre or a lease agreement).

When Is It Necessary to Have a Business Premises

Whether you need to have an official business location depends on the nature of your business—if you operate your business from a single location where you manufacture products or meet with clients, you must have a business location. However, if, for example, you work at clients’ homes, at various locations, or even just at home on a computer without clients present, then you do not need an official place of business.

You must have a business location in the following cases:

• Hair salons, beauty salons —you provide services at a single location where clients come to you.
• Restaurants, cafes —you prepare and sell food and beverages at a specific business location.
• Car repair shops, electronics repair shops —customers bring their cars or devices to you for repair.
• Manufacturing workshops, bakeries —you carry out production on the premises.
• Retail stores (brick-and-mortar stores) —you sell goods directly to customers in a physical store.

You do not need to have a business location in the following cases:

• Craft services (hairdressers who visit customers at home, plumbers) —you work exclusively at customers’ homes or businesses.
• Online business (e.g., graphic designer, programmer, copywriter) —you work from home on a computer without physical contact with customers.
• Personal trainer, instructor – you visit clients at various locations (e.g., gyms, businesses, clients’ homes).

From lawyers’ experience: A common misconception among business owners is the assumption that if their company’s registered office is at home, they no longer need to deal with the issue of a business location. However, if customers visit a specific location where the business owner actually provides services or sells goods, that location may be considered a place of business regardless of where the business owner’s formal registered office is located.

Types of Establishments

The requirements that a business must meet also vary depending on its type. There are three types of businesses in total:

Permanent Establishment

A permanent business location is situated in a building, such as a department store, restaurant, or office.

Mobile Business Premises

A mobile business is relocatable and can be set up in various locations. Examples include market stalls, food trucks, or mobile retail outlets.

Vending machine

A vending machinethat offers goods or services can also be considered a business establishment. We most commonly encounter vending machines selling food and drinks, but machines selling cosmetics, cannabis products, or collectible cards are also becoming increasingly common.

Now let’s take a look at the requirements a business must meet:

Business Registration

If you are establishing a business premises, you are required to report this information to the Trade Licensing Office (no later than three days before commencing operations at the premises). You also have a reporting obligation if you relocate or close the business premises. If you are closing the business only temporarily, you are required to post this information in an accessible and clearly visible location (such as the glass door of the store). You must also specify the dates from when to when the business will be closed.

You must register your business premises using the standard registration form provided by the Trade Licensing Office. On the form, you must provide your first and last name (or business name), identification number, and registered office. You must also specify the purpose of the business—that is, the nature of your business activities—and the planned date of commencement of operations.

Also, don’t forget to bring a document proving your ownership or right to use the property where you plan to open the business premises. This could be, for example, an extract from the land registry or a lease agreement.

Based on your notification, the Trade Licensing Office will issue an identification number for the business location and enter it into the Trade Register.

Practical tip: If you’re simultaneously starting a business, changing your registered office, or opening your first business location, it’s a good idea to check all the information at once. An error in the registered office, lease agreement, or business location notification may come to light later during an inspection or when communicating with the authorities.

Business Premises Signage

Every business location must be clearly marked. The information must be displayed in a clearly visible location and must include:

• The entrepreneur’s first and last name or the company name.
• The business owner’s identification number.

If the business premises are used to sell goods or provide services to consumers (e.g., a hair salon, bookstore, restaurant, or hotel), the following information must also be included:

• The first and last name of the person responsible for the business’s operations (with the exception of vending machines).
• The store’s hours of operation (with the exception of vending machines and mobile establishments).
• Category and class (for lodging facilities).

It is essential to pay close attention to the correct signage for the business. If you label the business incorrectly, you could face a fine of up to one million crowns.

The most common mistake: Business owners often label their establishment only with a trade name or logo. However, this may not be sufficient. The inspection will primarily focus on whether the signage clearly indicates who operates the business, what its business ID number is, and whether other mandatory information for consumers is also displayed at the business premises.

Business Premises Signage – Downloadable Template

Company Name / Entrepreneur’s Name

Business ID: [Identification Number]

Contact information: [Phone number, email, website]

If the business premises are used to sell goods or provide services to consumers, include the following information:

Responsible Person: [First and Last Name]

Hours of operation:

Monday–Friday: [opening hours]
Saturday–Sunday: [opening hours]

For lodging facilities, also include the following:

Accommodation category and class: [e.g., ★★★ hotel, ★★ guesthouse]

Health Department Approval

For some businesses, simply registering with the trade licensing office is not enough. If you operate, for example, a restaurant, café, hair salon, beauty salon, tattoo parlor, piercing studio, massage parlor, or other body care services, you must also comply with the health and safety requirements under the Public Health Protection Act and related regulations.

Please note a change effective in 2026: for body care services, the operating regulations no longer need to be submitted to the regional public health authority for approval and do not need to be posted at the business premises. However, business owners must still have them in place, follow them, and present them during any inspection. The commencement of operations, the nature of the business, the scope of operations, and the location of the business premises must be reported to the public health authority no later than the day operations begin.

Body Care Services

Body care services include hairdressing, pedicures, manicures, tanning beds, cosmetic treatments, massage, regeneration, and reconditioning services, as well as all activities that involve breaking the skin’s integrity (e.g., tattoo parlors).

In this case, the premises must be designated for this purpose by the building authority, and approval from the public health authority (hygiene department) is also required. To obtain this approval, certain conditions must be met:

Operating Regulations

First and foremost, the facility must have operating rules. These rules must include the following information:

• The facility’s address;
• Spatial characteristics of the facility—a description of individual rooms and their use, the facility’s layout, and specifications regarding hygiene and operating conditions;
• Expected working hours;
• Number of employees and their professional qualifications;
• Conditions of operation—specifications of activities performed at the facility, use of machinery, instruments, and other equipment, and safety rules;
• Principles for preventing infectious diseases—methods for disinfecting and sterilizing tools and work surfaces, and personal hygiene for employees;
• Laundry handling—procedures for handling clean and soiled laundry, as well as the storage and washing of work garments;
• Ensuring the Cleaning and Disinfection of the Facility – frequency and methods of cleaning, disinfectants used, and cleaning methods;
• Waste management – methods for sorting and disposing of municipal waste, handling hazardous and biologically contaminated waste, and contracting for the disposal of hazardous waste.

The operating rules must be posted in a visible location on the premises.

Drinking Water Supply

Only potable water may be used on the premises. If the facility obtains water from a source other than the public water supply (e.g., a well), you must provide a laboratory water analysis report.

Ensuring Facility Hygiene

The facility should be equipped with a cleaning room that includes a sink with hot and cold water and a space for storing cleaning supplies. Alternatively, a central cleaning room should be available within the building.

Equipment for Employees

The facility must include a place where employees can leave their street clothes—that is, a place where they can change into work clothes and store their regular clothing.

Another requirement is to have a restroom with a sink and soap available on the premises. A sink with soap must be provided in every workroom.

Materials

All materials and equipment in the facility (floors, walls, furniture, etc.) must be washable and disinfectable.

Food Service Establishments

Catering facilities include establishments where food is produced, prepared, or delivered. In the business sector, this category includes restaurants, bars, cafés, wine bars, cafeterias, catering companies, food delivery services, fast-food stands, and similar establishments.

A food service establishment must have storage, operational, and dining areas for patrons. The storage area must have sufficient capacity to store raw and processed foods, as well as packaged and unpackaged ingredients, separately.

Protection against contamination must be ensured at all levels of food production, processing, and distribution. It is essential to prevent cross-contamination between “unclean” areas—where raw foods are processed, dishes are washed, and waste is disposed of—and “clean” areas, where food is heat-treated and prepared for service. This requires the physical or operational separation of individual areas, separate work surfaces, and dedicated utensils for different operations.

The dining hall must have clearly separated areas for serving prepared meals and collecting used dishes. The dining area must also be adequately ventilated or, if necessary, air-conditioned.

The facility must have separate entrances for diners and staff, and separate routes for the delivery of supplies and the removal of waste. Basic requirements also include a sufficient number of flush toilets and sinks, adequate natural or mechanical ventilation, a continuous supply of running drinking water, effective wastewater disposal, and proper waste management.

The operator is required to ensure that information regarding the presence of allergens in the dishes served is clearly displayed and easily readable to consumers. If the establishment sells alcoholic beverages, a clearly visible sign must be displayed at the point of sale stating that the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited.

If you plan to operate a business in any of the areas subject to specific hygiene requirements, be aware of these regulations. Violating hygiene rules could result in a fine of up to three million crowns, or four million crowns in the event of harm to health or the outbreak or threat of an epidemic.

Final Inspection of Business Premises

You’ll need to obtain a final inspection for the space where your business is located if the building was originally intended for a different purpose (or if it’s a new property). You’ll typically encounter this situation if you’re planning to run a business from home and intend to convert part of your family home into business premises.

Do you need business premises in an apartment, a house, or a rented space? We’ll help you review the lease agreement, the owner’s consent, and any legal risks before you invest money in the space.

In these cases, you will need to have the space approved for occupancy or apply for a change in the building’s intended use. You must first determine all the building code requirements your business premises must meet and, after making any necessary structural modifications, submit an application for a change in the building’s intended use.

You can fill out and submit the application to the locally competent building authority or file it online via a data box or the building administration portal. The application fee is 1,000, 2,000, or 5,000 crowns, depending on the type of building.

In addition, the application must be accompanied by construction documentation indicating the changes resulting from the change in use compared to the certified documentation for the approved building, in accordance with the decree on construction documentation.

Business Premises and Fire Safety

Every business premises must comply with occupational safety and health (OSH ) and fire safety regulations. The basic obligations include, in particular:

Fire Alarm Procedures

You are required to develop fire alarm procedures that specify the steps to take in the event of a fire, how to sound the fire alarm, evacuation procedures, and other important instructions. These procedures must be clearly visible and accessible to everyone on the premises.

Providing Fire Safety Equipment

The facility must have appropriate fire safety equipment, which is determined based on the risks associated with the activities carried out there. Typically, this includes fire extinguishers. These must be located so that they are easily visible, freely accessible, and placed in areas with the highest risk of fire. Fire safety equipment must also be maintained in good working order.

Conditions for Firefighting and Rescue Operations

You are required to ensure clear access roads, staging areas for firefighting equipment, and unobstructed access to shut-off valves and distribution equipment. You must also ensure escape routes and the proper signage for emergency exits and evacuation routes.

Business Operations and Disposal of Commercial Waste

Whether you own an electronics store, a coffee shop, or a beauty salon, you’ll always generate a certain amount of waste. This waste is referred to as “commercial waste,” and like all waste, it must be disposed of properly.

Waste generated by a business owner’s manufacturing activities is not considered commercial waste.

To do this, you can either use the municipal solid waste management system (although municipalities are not required to accept this type of waste) or enter into a contract with an authorized private entity. This obligation applies to you even if you operate a business from your residence and your commercial waste is mixed with regular municipal waste.

In practice, small amounts of commercial waste are usually overlooked, and many business owners simply dispose of their commercial waste along with municipal waste. Nevertheless, it is important to note that violating this obligation could result in a fine of up to one million crowns.

Summary

A place of business is a specific location where an entrepreneur actually carries out business activities, such as a store, restaurant, hair salon, workshop, or auto repair shop. You generally need one if you work in a single location and customers come to you; conversely, purely online businesses or work performed at clients’ locations typically do not require a place of business. You must register your place of business with the Trade Licensing Office, correctly label it with the entrepreneur’s or company’s name and ID number, and, for consumer-facing establishments, provide additional information, such as the person in charge and business hours. For certain activities, particularly food service and personal care services, you must comply with hygiene regulations; starting in 2026, for personal care services, the operating rules will no longer need to be submitted to the hygiene authority for approval, but the business owner must have them in place and adhere to them. If the space is not designated for the intended purpose, a change in the building’s use may be required. The business owner is also responsible for fire safety, emergency exits, facility equipment, and legal waste disposal. Violations of these obligations may result in fines of up to millions of crowns.