# Discontinuing a business or temporarily closing it
Here you will find information and contacts at public authorities that are relevant if you wish to close your business or discontinue your self-employment permanently or temporarily – from commercial de-registration to deleting your entry from registers.
To ServicesIf you want to register as an expert in the energy efficiency expert list, you can submit an application under certain conditions.
When you start a business activity, you will be given a business identification number (W-IdNr.).
As an employer, you must register your employees for social insurance. To do this, you need a company number.
If your employer is insolvent and can no longer pay your wages, you can apply for insolvency benefit.
If you operate an electricity or gas installation and it is connected to an electricity or gas grid, you must register the unit in the Market Master Data Register (MaStR) of the Federal Network Agency. You only have to register plants in planning in certain cases.
If you are a market player in the electricity or gas market, you must register in the Market Master Data Register (MaStR) of the Federal Network Agency.
Assistance
These Assistance Services support you in exercising your rights and fulfilling your duties in the European internal market.