How to Open a Business in Barcelona, step by step

1. Start the business

Do you have a well-defined business idea? Only knowing what product or service you want to offer to the public is not enough. It is also important to analyse the customers’ habits, the competition and the economic resources you will need, among other aspects.

To help you in this process, the Barcelona City Council's Business Advice Office (OAE for its initials in Catalan) offers you an extensive catalogue of business support services and programmes: from guidance on how to carry out municipal procedures to business or financial advice.

Not everyone starts a business from scratch. If your decision is to relaunch an existing business, you are interested in the personalised business transfer consultancy service of Barcelona Activa -in collaboration with the Catalan Business Re-entrepreneurship Centre-, which puts entrepreneurs like you in contact with people who want to hand over their business.

You’ll also be interested in:

2. Find an ideal location

Once you have a well-defined business idea, it will be time to look for premises to make it a reality. To make your work easier, and in coordination with the real estate sector in our city, you can access the Information and advice service in the search for premises from the Business Advice Office.

To compare and understand the commercial dynamics of the areas of the city where you are planning to open your business better, you can also consult the Observatori del Comerç i la Restauració de la ciutat [City Commerce and Restaurant Sector Observatory]. Here, you will find valuable materials, such as Census of economic activities on the ground floor.

In Barcelona, there are a number of associations and commercial groups that are responsible for boosting trade in the city's neighbourhoods. Get to know them if you want to know first-hand what day-to-day business is like in the area where you want to establish yourself.

3. Manage procedures and permits

Do you already have a well-developed business idea and the ideal location? Now, it's time to get the paperwork in order. Often, in order to start an economic activity, a permit, licence or some kind of certificate is required.

The Business Advice Office will offer you all the information and advice you need about the municipal procedures you will need to open your business. The Municipal Information and Procedures Service will accompany you during this process.

Before opening up, you must have clear concepts such as:

Municipal licence. It is compulsory to request it before starting any business activity. You can do this procedure through the Business Advice Office.
Taxes. To start the activity, you will have to register with the Tax Agency to obtain the tax identification number (NIF) and to register for the tax on economic activities (IAE). There are also municipal taxes to take into account, such as the public price for the collection of commercial waste.
Social Security. Before opening to the public, you must register with the self-employed individuals' regime of the Social Security General Treasury Administration. If you have hired employees, you must also register them.

You’ll also be interested in:

Start of the activity: legal framework, communications and activity licences.

4. Familiarise yourself with trade regulations

Before opening the business, you should also review the common and specific regulations of the commercial sector. There are some that regulate opening times, labelling, language or data protection, for example. Here are the main ones:

Basic provisions:

Law 18/2017, of 1 August, on commerce, services and fires.
Law 7/1996, of 15 January, on the regulation of retail trade.
Law 17/2009, of 23 November, on free access to service activities and the exercise thereof
Municipal ordinance of activities and integral intervention of the Environmental Administration of Barcelona (OMAIIA for its initials in Catalan). Check it out.
Act 11/2009, of 6 July, on the authorities' regulation of public shows and recreational activities.
Decree 112/2010, of 31 August, which approves the regulation of public shows and recreational activities.
Act 22/2010, of 20 July, on the Consumer Code of Catalonia.

Opening times:

Order EMC/117/2021 establishing the opening calendar for commercial establishments in Catalonia on Sundays and public holidays. Check it out.
Law 1/2004, of 21 December, on opening times.
Ministry of the Interior Order /358/2011, of 19 December, regulating the business hours of establishments open to the public, public shows and recreational activities subject to Act 11/2009.

5. Get training and learn about good practices

Opening the business is the first step in the right direction, but to offer a quality service, you need to be up to date. Take part in the more than 50 online courses totally free of charge, which are available from the Department for Business and Trade, Restaurants and Consumer Services, along with Barcelona Activa. You will be able to improve and enhance your business, from digital marketing to customer loyalty tools.

You can also apply for the Comerç a punt (Ready for Business) service from Barcelona Activa, which offers you up to 12 hours of free support to improve your business, from the treasury to sales strategies.

But, beyond training, you can also be inspired by the good practices carried out by other businesses in the city. To get to know them better, you can become a member of the commercial entity in your geographical area. You can also read the tips and good practices that we provide here.