So what's been going on? or (Was bisher geschah)

So what's been going on in the meantime you ask? Or as my husband's work colleagues wondered - how come you have so much time to go for lunch and play golf all day? :-D

Collecting information on the steps you have to do a certain task is kind of like asking Professor Dolores Umbridge how many lines you have to write. There's just not a definitive answer. You're done when you're done.

Or perhaps an even more apt analogy is Hansel and Gretl. You find a breadcrumb which leads you onto the next one...


My random task since my last post was "What do I need to do to register my business?"

• Breadcrumb answer 1: It only takes 5 minutes (their words!) We can help you with that. Bring documents a, b, and c.

Cool! That easy? I even have all those documents ready at home...

• Breadcrumb 2: Well, before we can register your business, you will need to register your company name it in the official Register of Companies. Fill out form x and bring back. (Side Note: This is a purely optional step, but being registered in the office register gives your company a more professional rap, which is important for Webshops, which can otherwise be started by any Hans or Franz)

And at the next meeting....

• Breadcrumb 3: The form is filled out correctly, well done! But before you are allowed to submit it, you have to do an online search of registered & trademarked names to see if it's available. Then you can submit a query to do an official search of company names. Fill out query form z.

I emailed the form right when I got home. Sat around enjoying many rounds of golfing, waiting for the results from the search 1 week later.

• Breadcrumb 4: My query comes back saying the name is available and "suggests" I add a qualifier to the end of my company name that labels it in the type of business it is. Their suggestions are "Online Webshop" "Online Webseite".
  
  Since I don't want the word "Webshop" in my official company name,  I want to go back and ask in more detail about how rigid the rule is on their suggestion. I also wanted to ask why a close competitor with a similar name to mine doesn't have the name like "webshop" attached to their company name.

Sit back and enjoy the sun at the golf course because it's July and the person who answers that question is away for vacation in the meantime.

• Breadcrumb 5: Apparently the rule is this - if you use a 'fantasy name' like 'Partylicious Parties', then you don't have to add anything because it's a made-up name and not a real word.
   
  However, if your name only uses regular words like "ACME Parties", then you have to add something that narrows down what you do.
   
  E.g. if you are in event organization, you would have to have "ACME Parties Event Organizing" or in my case, with an online shop "ACME Parties Online Shop".
   

We compromised on appending "Shop" to my name and was told that would be fine for the company register.

• Breadcrumb 6: Great, looks like you're ready! But before you can submit your registration form, you will need to go to a Notary and have your signature certified so that you can legally sign documents for your company name.

Trot down to nearest Notary, sign a piece of paper and fork over 60 Euros at information desk. Apparently for only 60 Euros, you don't actually get to see the notary in person.

• Breadcrumb 7: Perfect, NOW you have everything you need. Take the form you filled out for breadcrumb 2 and submit it to the Austrian Justiz Landesgericht für ZRS Graz. (some justice building?) This will take about 10 days to clear.

10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1 and it arrives! I got even more golfing done during this time, so win-win :-D

• Breadcrumb 8: Everything looks good, but before you register your official company name, we will help you fill out this "Neufög" form, which is how you apply for not having to pay any registration fees as a first-time business owner...

But the good news was that 8 was the last step! Then it only took 5 minutes for them to send off my application for registering my company effective September 1, 2016.

Alles Party Shop e.U.
(e.U. means registered company)