When you register a Czech trade license, you need to specify what your business will actually do. These registered activities define the scope of work covered by your trade authorization.
Many freelance and service activities fall under the Czech free trade (živnost volná). Other activities require a craft, regulated/tied or concession trade.
KEY FACT
A Czech trade license does not automatically cover every type of business activity. Your registered activities must cover the work you actually perform.
LEGAL REFERENCE
Act No. 455/1991 Coll., Trade Licensing Act (živnostenský zákon)
Official e-Sbírka — Act No. 455/1991 Coll.
What is a trade license activity?
A trade license activity describes the type of business you are authorized to conduct.
Examples include:
software and IT services,
consulting,
marketing,
design,
photography,
teaching and training,
wholesale and retail,
administrative services,
accommodation,
construction,
craft activities.
Your job title does not determine your registered activity.
Someone who calls themselves a consultant, for example, needs an activity that covers the consulting services they actually provide. The same applies to developers, designers, marketers and other freelancers.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Choose activities according to the work you perform, not simply according to your job title.
How are Czech trade activities classified?
Czech trade activities are divided into four main categories.
Czech Trade Categories and Activity Requirements
Trade category | How activities work | Professional competence |
|---|---|---|
Free trade (živnost volná) | Contains multiple defined fields of activity | Not required |
Craft trade (živnost řemeslná) | Covers specified craft trades | Required |
Regulated/tied trade (živnost vázaná) | Covers specified regulated activities | Required |
Concession trade (živnost koncesovaná) | Covers activities requiring a concession | Specific statutory requirements apply |
A free trade works differently from the other categories because one free trade contains multiple fields of activity.
What are free trade activities?
A free trade (živnost volná) is a trade for which Czech law does not require professional competence.
Instead of registering a separate trade for every activity, you register the free trade and select the fields of activity that apply to your business.
The current Czech government guidance lists 82 fields of activity within the free trade.
KEY FACT
Free trade is one trade containing multiple fields of activity. You can select the fields that apply to your business.
LEGAL REFERENCE
Act No. 455/1991 Coll., Trade Licensing Act — Annex No. 4
Official e-Sbírka — Act No. 455/1991 Coll.
Which freelance activities can be registered under a free trade?
Many common freelance businesses use activities within the free trade.
Examples of Freelance Work and Relevant Trade Areas
Type of work | Relevant trade area can include |
|---|---|
Software developer / IT freelancer | IT services, software and related consulting |
Business consultant | Consulting and advisory activities |
Marketing specialist | Advertising, marketing and media representation |
Graphic designer | Design and related creative activities |
Photographer | Photographic services |
Translator / interpreter
| Translation and interpreting activities where separate regulated authorization does not apply |
Private teacher/tutor | Extracurricular education, courses and training |
Administrative freelancer | Administrative and organizational services |
Content creator | Depends on the commercial activities the creator actually performs |
A business can also require more than one field. A freelancer who develops software and provides business consulting, for example, can register fields covering both activities.
Full List of Czech Free Trade Activities
Below you can find the full list of fields of activity included under the Czech free trade (živnost volná).
1. Provision of services for agriculture, horticulture, fishing, forestry and hunting 2. Professional forest management 3. Production of forest management plans and outlines 4. Handling of the reproductive material of forestry plants 5. Animal breeding and training (with the exception of animal production) 6. Treatment of minerals, extraction of peat and mud 7. Manufacture of food and starch products 8. Fruit distillation 9. Manufacture of feed, compound feed, additives and premixtures 10. Manufacture of textiles, textile products, clothing and clothing accessories 11. Manufacture and repair of footwear, saddlery and harness products 12. Wood processing, manufacture of wooden, cork, straw and plaiting products 13. Manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard and of goods made of those materials 14. Publishing, printing, binding and copying 15. Manufacture, reproduction, distribution, sale, rental of audio and audiovisual recordings, and manufacture of blank data and recording carriers 16. Manufacture of coke, raw pitch and other solid fuels 17. Manufacture of chemical substances, fibres and preparations, and cosmetic products 18. Manufacture of fertilizers 19. Manufacture of plastic and rubber products 20. Glass manufacture and processing 21. Manufacture of building materials, porcelain, ceramic and plaster products 22. Manufacture of abrasive products and other non-metallic mineral products 23. Technical and jewellery stone cutting 24. Production of iron, precious metals, non-ferrous metals and their alloys 25. Manufacture of metal structures and fabricated metal products 26. Artistic and craft working of metals 27. Surface treatment and welding of metals and other materials 28.Manufacture of measuring, testing, navigation, optical and photographic instruments and equipment 29. Manufacture of electronic components, electrical equipment, and the manufacture and repair of electrical machinery, appliances and electronic equipment powered by low voltage 30. Manufacture of non-electric domestic appliances 31. Manufacture of industrial machinerytheir 32. Manufacture of motor vehicles and trailers and bodies 33. Design and manufacture of vessels 34. Manufacture, development, design, testing, installation, maintenance, repair, modification and structural changes to aircraft, aircraft engines, blades, aircraft parts and equipment and aviation ground facilities 35. Manufacture of rail traction units and rail vehicles on tramways trolley-bus tracks and cableways, and railway fleets 36. Manufacture of bicycles, wheelchairs and other non-motor vehicles 37. Manufacture and repair of upholstered products 38. Manufacture, repair and maintenance of sport products, games, toys and prams and pushchairs 39. Manufacture of medical devices 40. Manufacture and repair of sources of ionizing radiation 41. Manufacture of school and office equipment, except paper products, the manufacture of costume jewellery, brooms and brushes, made-up articles, umbrellas, souvenirs 42. Manufacture of other manufacturing articles 43. Operation of water supply and wastewater services, and water treatment and distribution 44. Waste management (except dangerous waste) 45. Preparatory and finishing work, specialized construction activities 46. Glazing, framing and mounting 47. Intermediation in trade and services (Import / Export) 48. Wholesale and retail trade (Shop, online sales) 49. Pawnbroking and retailing in second-hand goods 50. Maintenance of motor vehicles and accessories 51. Transport via pipelines and land transport (except rail and road motor transport) 52. Storage, packaging of goods, cargo handling and technical activities in transport 53. Forwarding and representation in customs procedure 54. Operation of postal and international postal services 55. Accommodation services (Hostel, Pension, Hotel) 56. Provision of software, information technology consulting, data processing, hosting and related activities and web portals (Programmers) 57. Activities of information and news agencies 58. Real estate services, facility management and maintenance (Real Estate) 59. Leasing and loaning of movables 60. Guidance and consulting activities, production of expert studies and opinions (Consultants) 61. Land consolidation design 62. Preparation and production of technical designs, graphic and drawing work 63. Design of electrical equipment 64. Research and development in the field of natural and technical sciences or social sciences 65. Testing, measurement, analysis and inspections 66. Advertising, marketing, media representation (Advertising for 3rd parties) 67. Design and arrangement activities and modelling 68. Photographic services 69. Translation and interpreting 70. Administrative services and services of an organizational and economic nature 71. Operation of a travel agency and guide services in the field of tourism 72. Extra-curricular education, organization of courses, training, including instructor services (Language teachers) 73. Operation of cultural, educational and entertainment facilities, organization of cultural productions, events, exhibitions, fairs, festivals, sales and similar events 74. Operation of physical education and sports facilities and organization of sports activities 75. Domestic washing, ironing, repair and maintenance of clothing, household linen and personal goods 76. Provision of technical services 77. Repair and maintenance of household goods, items of a cultural nature, precision equipment, optical equipment and measuring devices 78. Provision of personal and personal hygiene services 79. Provision of services for the family and households
80. Provision of services for legal entities and trust funds
81. Activities connected to the cryptocurrency and virtual assets
82. Manufacture, trade and services not elsewhere specified
Can you register more than one trade activity?
Yes.
You can register multiple activities when your business provides different services.
For a free trade, this means selecting multiple fields of activity under the same free trade.
For example:
Software development + IT consulting
or:
Marketing + business consulting + advertising
can require more than one field to accurately cover the business.
KEY FACT
You do not need to limit your Czech business to one registered activity.
Should you register every free trade activity?
No.
Register the activities that your business performs or genuinely plans to perform.
There is no practical benefit in selecting unrelated activities simply because they are available.
PRACTICAL PEXPATS NOTE
When Pexpats registers a trade license, the activities are selected according to the client’s planned business.
The useful question is not simply:
“What is your profession?”
It is:
“What services or products will you invoice your customers for?”
That gives a much clearer picture of which activities need to be registered.
What if you provide several different services?
Register the activities needed to cover those services.
For example, someone working independently may:
develop software,
provide IT consulting,
provide business consulting,
offer marketing services.
There is no need to force all of these services into one activity when several registered fields describe the business more accurately.
Can you add another activity later?
Yes.
You can add activities when your business changes or expands.
If the new service falls within another free-trade field, that field can be added.
If the new activity requires a craft, regulated/tied or concession trade, you must meet the requirements for that trade before carrying out the activity.
WARNING
An existing trade license does not automatically cover a new type of business activity.
Check whether the new activity is already covered before you start providing it.
Are all freelancers covered by a free trade?
No.
“Freelancer” is not a legal trade category.
Many common freelance activities fall within the free trade, but some activities require professional competence, a concession or another form of authorization.
Some self-employed professions are also governed by separate legislation and do not fall under the ordinary Trade Licensing Act.
The classification depends on what the person does, not whether they describe themselves as a freelancer.
Are all self-employed activities trades?
No.
Czech law specifically excludes certain professions and activities from the Trade Licensing Act because they are governed by other legislation.
A person can therefore be self-employed without carrying out a trade under an ordinary Czech trade authorization.
LEGAL REFERENCE
Act No. 455/1991 Coll., Trade Licensing Act — § 3
Official e-Sbírka — Act No. 455/1991 Coll.
Can you use the same activity for different clients?
Yes.
Your registered activity describes what your business does. It is not tied to one customer.
If your authorization covers the consulting services you provide, for example, you can provide those services to multiple clients without registering the activity again for each client.
The client’s country can create separate tax or VAT obligations, but it does not change the underlying trade activity
Does your trade activity affect your taxes?
Yes.
Your business activity can affect how your self-employed income is treated for Czech income-tax purposes.
One important example is the Czech lump-sum expense system. The applicable expense percentage is determined by the type of business activity rather than by the freelancer’s actual expenses.
This is also how Pexpats applies the system when preparing tax returns for self-employed clients.
KEY FACT
The activity you conduct can affect which lump-sum expense percentage applies to your income.
How do you choose the correct trade activities?
Start with the work you will actually charge customers for.
For each service or product, determine:
What exactly are you providing?
Which registered field covers it?
Is it covered by a free trade?
Does it require a craft, regulated/tied or concession trade?
Do you provide other services that need additional fields?
For straightforward freelance businesses, the relevant activities can often be found within the free trade.
Specialized or regulated work needs to be checked separately.
PRACTICAL PEXPATS NOTE
Describe the actual work, not just the profession.
“IT,” “consulting” or “content creator” can be too broad on their own. Knowing exactly what the person sells to clients makes it possible to select the activities that cover the business.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can register multiple activities. A free trade contains multiple statutory fields, and you can select the fields that apply to your business.
No. Free trade is one trade containing multiple fields of activity. You select the fields relevant to your business.
Yes. You can add another activity when your business expands. If the new activity requires another type of trade authorization, you must meet the requirements for that trade.
Yes. You can select several relevant activities from the beginning when your business provides different services.
Yes. IT and software services are covered by fields within the Czech free trade. The selected field should match the services you actually provide.
General business and management consulting is covered by the free trade. Activities belonging to separately regulated professions follow their own rules.
Yes. Advertising, marketing and media representation are included within the Czech free trade.
Yes. Among other things, the type of business activity can determine which lump-sum expense percentage applies to your self-employed income.
Official Sources
Act No. 455/1991 Coll., Trade Licensing Act (živnostenský zákon) Primary legislation governing Czech trade authorization and trade activities.
Relevant to this page: § 3 — activities excluded from the Trade Licensing Act, and Annexes No. 1–4 — trade categories and activities.
View Act No. 455/1991 Coll. on e-Sbírka
Czech Public Administration Portal (gov.cz) Official guidance explaining Czech trade categories and the fields belonging to the free trade.
Establishing a Trade Licence — gov.cz
Ministry of Industry and Trade (Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu) Official Czech authority responsible for trade licensing and guidance for entrepreneurs.
Licensed Trades — Ministry of Industry and Trade
Ministry of Industry and Trade — amendment concerning virtual-asset activities Official information concerning the 2025 removal of the former free-trade field for services related to virtual assets.
