business / trade
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business
An independent, planned, and long-term economic activity with the intention of making a profit. This includes trade, crafts, and industry.
Wer sich selbstständig machen will, muss ein Gewerbe anmelden.
Anyone who wants to become self-employed must register a business.
business sector
The totality of commercial businesses in a particular region or industry.
Die Stadt fördert das lokale Gewerbe durch niedrigere Steuern.
The city supports the local business sector through lower taxes.
'Gewerbe' is a term from administration and business. It refers to an officially registered, independent activity. It is not a general word for 'Arbeit' (work) or 'Beruf' (profession/job).
Für seine Tätigkeit als freier Berater musste er kein Gewerbe anmelden.
For his work as a freelance consultant, he did not have to register a business.
The word 'Gewerbe' is often part of compound nouns related to business and administration. Examples are 'Gewerbegebiet' (commercial area), 'Gewerbesteuer' (trade tax), and 'Gewerbeschein' (business license).
Die Firma hat ihren Sitz in einem großen Gewerbegebiet am Stadtrand.
The company is based in a large commercial area on the outskirts of the city.
In connection with founding a company, fixed expressions are very common. The most important ones are 'ein Gewerbe anmelden' (to register a business), 'ein Gewerbe abmelden' (to deregister a business), and 'ein Gewerbe betreiben' (to run a business).
Er betreibt seit fünf Jahren ein kleines Gewerbe im Handwerksbereich.
He has been running a small business in the crafts sector for five years.
company / undertaking
Das Unternehmen refers to the economic organization or company. Das Gewerbe, by contrast, refers to the independent, systematic activity carried out with the aim of making a profit. When talking about the business itself, use Unternehmen; for the economic activity being carried out, Gewerbe is the right word.
Lea betreibt mit der Reparatur von Fahrrädern ein eigenes Gewerbe.
Lea runs her own business repairing bicycles.
Lea gründet ein Unternehmen für die Reparatur von Fahrrädern.
Lea is starting a company that repairs bicycles.
