Coworking is flexible – by contrast, the broadcasting licence fee appears, at first glance, to be a rigid system. This is precisely why the question regularly arises: as a coworker, do I have to pay extra, even though I already pay the broadcasting licence fee privately? And what applies to operators, shared offices or vehicles used for business purposes?
In most cases, co-workers do not have to pay an additional broadcasting licence fee for a workspace in an open-plan area, as the premises subject to the licence fee are usually managed by the provider. Additional licence fee obligations mainly arise if you use your own, physically separate unit (e.g. a lockable office) or if business vehicles are registered to your company. The decisive factor is whether you have a ‘business premises’ or ‘spatial unit’ and how many employees and vehicles are assigned to that business premises.
For businesses, the presence of a radio or television is generally irrelevant. The decisive factors are business premises, the number of employees (contribution bands) and motor vehicles used for business purposes. One motor vehicle per business premises subject to the licence fee is exempt; each additional vehicle is charged on a monthly basis. This system is important because co-working falls precisely at the intersection of ‘business premises’ and ‘shared space’. The basic licence fee is the same as the private broadcasting licence fee (currently €18.36 per month). Tiered rates apply depending on the number of employees; one vehicle per business premises is exempt, whilst additional vehicles cost €6.12 per month.
The key question is: Are you simply using a flexible workspace in a shared co-working space – or a self-contained unit that can be allocated to your business?
Typical scenarios in which co-workers usually do not need to register anything extra
A flexdesk or fixed desk in an open-plan area with no physical partitioning
Use of communal areas (lounge, kitchen) without exclusive rights of use
Bookings on a one-off or daily basis without a permanently allocated space
In these cases, the space is usually treated as the operator’s business premises. A practical tip: if you are unsure, ask the space whether and how the premises are already registered with the contribution service.
A lockable (shared) office or a clearly demarcated room allocated exclusively to your company
A ‘private space’ or room unit that is no longer regarded as merely shared use
A company car used on a permanent business basis and allocated to your business premises (important: one vehicle is free per business premises; any additional vehicles are subject to a charge)
Shared office spaces are particularly relevant to co-working: if several companies work together in a single, physically undivided space, there are two options, according to the Beitragsservice: Either the entire premises are registered as a single permanent establishment (with joint liability), or the layout is structured in such a way that there are separate permanent establishments. For co-working, this means: open-plan areas tend to constitute ‘a single unit’, whilst separately lockable offices are more likely to constitute individual units.
Check the contract and floor plan
Does the contract state ‘co-working workspace’ (shared use) or ‘office/unit’ (exclusive use)? The clearer the distinction, the easier it is to determine the broadcasting licence fee classification.
Ask the operator in writing
Ask for brief confirmation as to whether the location is registered as the operator’s business premises and whether your workspace falls under this category. This will help if any queries arise later.
Allocate staff correctly
For businesses, the licence fee amount is based on the number of employees per business premises (on a sliding scale). In co-working set-ups, this is often overestimated or underestimated because teams work in a hybrid manner. What matters is the allocation to the business premises – not how often someone is on site.
Don’t forget vehicles
If you use a company car for business purposes and it is assigned to your business premises, you may need to register it. Remember: one vehicle per business premises subject to contributions is exempt; any additional vehicles are subject to a charge.
Clarify special cases early on
If you use multiple locations, a home office plus a co-working space, or project offices, it’s worth checking with the contribution service briefly before you end up registering twice.
Clarifying matters at an early stage avoids unnecessary back payments, ensures legal certainty in day-to-day business operations and provides additional planning security in the long term.
At the COLLECTION Business Centre, co-working zones, meeting spaces and (depending on the location) private offices are combined with professional service processes. It is precisely this combination that helps resolve the issue of the broadcasting licence fee: the spaces are clearly categorised (shared areas versus units for exclusive use), and the operator can transparently demonstrate which areas are classified as business premises. This structure is particularly valuable for companies moving from a co-working space into their own office or temporarily accommodating a project team: they gain flexibility without ending up in grey areas regarding licence fee liability.
Conclusion
The broadcasting licence fee in a co-working space is rarely an ‘automatic additional fee’ for every user. In most cases, the business premises are already covered via the provider. Additional obligations arise primarily in the case of exclusive, physically separable units or vehicles used for business purposes. By keeping clear records of the contract, the space allocation model and the allocation of spaces, you minimise the risk of double payments – and establish a clear basis for any enquiries from the licence fee collection service.